Brachial artery responses in menopausal women using tibolone.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of tibolone treatment on brachial artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and flux-mediated dilation (FMD) in postmenopausal Mexican women.

METHOD

The FMD, PI, and RI of the right brachial artery were measured in 19 postmenopausal women before and after they received a hyperemic stimulus, first at baseline and then following a 6-month treatment with 2.5 mg of tibolone per day. Statistical analysis was performed using the t test.

RESULTS

The mean+/-SD age was 52.2+/-3.9 years; time since menopause was 24.6+/-16.7 months; and treatment duration was 5.7+/-2.0 months. Compared with prestimulus measurements, a significant poststimulus increase in arterial diameter and a significant decrease in PI were observed at baseline. Compared with prestimulus measurements, a significant poststimulus increase in arterial diameter and a significant decrease in both PI and RI were observed post-treatment.

CONCLUSION

Tibolone treatment had a favorable effect on brachial artery responses to hyperemic stimuli.