Effects of transdermal hormone replacement therapy on levels of soluble P- and E-selectin in postmenopausal healthy women

Objective: To study the adhesion molecule pattern in postmenopausal women who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT), HRT users, and fertile women. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Patient(s): Fifty healthy naturally postmenopausal women and 20 fertile women. Intervention(s): Twenty-six women received no HRT and 24 received continuous transdermal 17β-estradiol, 0.05 mg/d, plus oral acetate nomegestrol, 5 mg/d. Main Outcome Measure(s): Levels of the soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin. Result(s): Women who did not received HRT showed a trend toward higher levels of soluble E-selectin and had significantly higher levels of soluble P-selectin than did fertile women. Levels of soluble E-selectin and soluble P-selectin were significantly lower in HRT users than in nonusers. Levels of VCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in HRT users than in fertile women, but no significant differences in CAM concentrations were found between the other groups. Conclusion(s): Menopause may lead to increased levels of soluble E- and soluble P-selectin, whereas long-term HRT is associated with lower selectin concentrations. This suggests that HRT may have a beneficial effect on endothelial function