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| Authors | Y Muscat Baron R Galea M P Brincat |
| Abstract | Objective: to assess iliac vessel wall thickness in five groups of women who differed in age, menstrual status and whether the menopausal groups were treated with HRT. Method: A 3.5MHz ultrasound was used to assess the combined vessel wall thickness of the right iliac artery inner wall and vein outer wall. Three groups of women were menopausal and were distinguished from each other by the (a) administration of hormone replacement therapy (Conjugated Oestrogens) ( N=32), (b) a group with high risk factors for atherosclerosis (N=14) and (c) an untreated low risk group of postmenopausal women (N=9). Two other groups of menstrual women without any risk factors for atherosclerosis were also recruited. One group of menstrual women was aged above 35 years (N=35) and another small group were aged below 35 years (N=16). Results: The highest iliac vessel wall thickness was found in the menopausal group of women possessing high risk factors for atherosclerosis (4.30.09mm). Following this group were the untreated menopausal group of women with a mean iliac vessel wall thickness of 3.90.08mm. Significantly lower thickness were obtained in the other three groups (Mann Whitney U test). The thickness of the hormonally treated menopausal group was 2.930.09mm, the older menstrual group 2.610.07mm, and 2.00.06mm in the young menstrual group. Conclusion: These results confirm the significant impact high risk factors such as smoking, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes have on the vessel wall thickness due to accelerated atherosclerosis. This study also suggests that the oestrogenaemic state of a woman may effect the health of the vessel wall. In fact, the ageing process and the oestrogen deficiency state of the menopause may act in synergy to exacerbate atheroma formation. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
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| Key words | atherosclerosis, menopause, thickness, Iliac vessel wall |