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Chronic hormone replacement therapy does not alter resting or maximal skin blood flow
E M Brooks-Asplund1, W L Kenney
1Noll Physiological Research Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6900, USA.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|August 4, 1998
Summary
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) does not alter baseline or maximal skin blood flow (SkBF) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) in postmenopausal women. Chronic ERT does not affect resting or heat-evoked SkBF and CVC responses.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Thermoregulation
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) exhibit altered body core temperature regulation.
- Previous research suggests potential impacts of ERT on vascular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether chronic oral ERT influences baseline and maximal skin blood flow (SkBF) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) in postmenopausal women.
- To determine if ERT affects SkBF and CVC in thermoneutral and warm environments.
Main Methods:
- Forearm blood flow (FBF) measured via venous-occlusion plethysmography and laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in postmenopausal women (No HRT, ERT, and combined hormone therapy groups).
- Measurements taken at rest and during local heating (42°C) in thermoneutral conditions.
- Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) calculated and standardized as %CVCmax.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in baseline forearm vascular conductance (FVC), %CVCmax, or maximal FVC were observed among the groups.
- Skin blood flow and CVC responses to heat were similar between ERT and No HRT groups.
- Chronic ERT did not alter baseline or maximal SkBF and CVC.
Conclusions:
- Chronic oral estrogen replacement therapy does not appear to influence baseline or maximal skin blood flow.
- ERT does not affect the ability of the cutaneous vasculature to respond to thermal stimuli in postmenopausal women.