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| Authors | Y Muscat Baron R Galea M P Brincat D Felice |
| Abstract | The high resolution 22.5 MHz Osteoson DIII was employed to accurately measure the individual layers of the carotid artery. One hundred and twenty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited sequentially and categorised into three groups. Forty-six postmenopausal women were on oral hormone replacement therapy (0.625mg conjugated equine oestrogen and 0.15mg Norgestrel) taken for an average duration of 3+1.5 years, 32 women had been on oestradiol (100mg) implants for 3+1.5 years and 51 postmenopausal women acting as controls were also recruited in this study. The implant group had the thickest carotid artery wall (0.84+0.26) when compared to the other two groups. The full thickness of the carotid artery wall was thicker than the other two groups due to the significantly thicker externa (0.257+0.14mm) and media layers (0.316+0.11mm). Significant differences in the externa layer were noted when comparing the control and implant groups. There was also a significant difference in the media layer when comparing the control group (0.265+0.092mm) to both the oral (0.289+0.087mm) and implant groups. The externa and media layers have a high connective tissue content mainly collagen type I , collagen type III and elastin. The intima layer was significantly thinner in the orally treated group (0.0.249+0.88mm) when compared to the controls (0.287+0.095mm). No significant difference in the intima layer was noted between the control and the implant group (0.279+0.1mm). These findings suggest that hormone replacement therapy given to postmenopausal women influence in a differential manner the various layers of the carotid artery. Hormone replacement therapy appears to encourage thickening of the arterial layers with the highest connective tissue content and in turn it appears to delay thickening of the intima. These effects on the arterial connective tissue may be partly responsible for the cardio-protection attributed to hormone replacement therapy. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | Volume 15 (suppl) |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
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| Key words | carotid artery, wall thickness, oestrogen implant, menopause, hormone replacement therapy |