Hormone Replacement and Neural Cardiovascular Control in Postmenopausal Women

• Status: Terminated
• Trial end date: 2015-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

Older women have an exaggerated increase in blood pressure during exercise. However, the reasons for this are unclear. It is important to investigate this phenomenon because a greater blood pressure response to exercise has been associated with an increased risk of stroke and mortality in otherwise healthy individuals. A unique aspect of aging in women is the profound change in hormone levels (i.e. estrogen and progesterone) associated with menopause. The influence of changes in estrogen and progesterone levels on the cardiovascular responses to exercise is poorly understood. However, it has been suggested that these hormones might change the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system. Possible mechanisms that could account for these changes are the arterial baroreflex and feedback from the exercising muscle (known as the exercise pressor reflex), both of which are known to powerfully modulate blood pressure during exercise. However, to date, few human studies have thoroughly examined the influence of changes in hormone levels on baroreflex function during exercise or the exercise pressor reflex in older women. As such, the purpose of this research project is to assess baroreflex function and the exercise pressor reflex in older women after transdermal estrogen and placebo.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia
• Treatments: Estradiol; Estradiol 17 beta-cypionate; Estradiol 3-benzoate; Estradiol valerate; Hormones; Polyestradiol phosphate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• We plan to study female subjects of all ethnic backgrounds ranging in age from 18 to 80 years. Only healthy, normotensive individuals not taking medications will be included in this study.

• All postmenopausal women will be at least 4 years post menopause to avoid the potential for perimenopausal interference with study results

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active cardiopulmonary disease

• Hypertension

• Diabetes

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with concurrent daily use of inhalers.

• Known liver disease

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Chronic Kidney disease

• Pregnant women

• Any of the following contraindications to estrogen usage will cause exclusion:

• Personal or 1st degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer

• Vaginal bleeding;

• Current thrombophlebitis or venous thromboembolic disorders including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus;

• Arterial thromboembolic disease such as stroke or myocardial infarction

• Migraine headaches

• Any previous intolerance to estrogen supplementation.

• Women who have smoked during the one-year period prior to enrollment.