Colacurci Nicola, Fornaro Felice, Cobellis Luigi, De Franciscis Pasquale, Torella Marco, Sepe Elena, Arciello Alessandro, Cacciapuoti Federico, Paolisso Giuseppe, Manzella Daniela
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Menopause. 2007 Sep-Oct;14(5):879-84. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3180577893.
To investigate the effect of raloxifene on atherosclerosis progression in healthy postmenopausal women.
In a prospective fashion, a total of 155 healthy postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to receive raloxifene 60 mg/day or a matching placebo for 18 months. Atherosclerosis progression was evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries. Plasma levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin, and the degree of insulin resistance by the homeostatic model assessment method were also determined.
The progression slope of carotid IMT was 0.0112 mm/18 months in the raloxifene group and 0.0857 mm/18 months in the placebo group (P<0.004). Raloxifene treatment compared with placebo produced a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides (P<0.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.02), soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (P<0.005) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (P<0.04), E-selectin (P<0.02), interleukin-6 (P<0.005), tumor necrosis factor alpha (P<0.005) levels, and homeostatic model assessment index (P<0.005) and a significant increase in plasma adiponectin levels (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women receiving raloxifene had a lower risk of IMT progression (odds ratio=0.41; 95% CI: 0.32-0.70).
Raloxifene treatment, possibly through an increase in plasma adiponectin levels, may slow the progression of IMT in postmenopausal women.
