Effect of Aerodiol administration on ocular arteries in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the alteration of ocular blood hemodynamics after intranasal administration of 17beta-estradiol, through measurement of the ophthalmic artery (OA) and the central retinal artery (CRA) using color duplex sonography.

METHODS

Thirty healthy women who had been naturally postmenopausal for at least 1 year were enrolled in the study. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blinded study was conducted of the acute effect of 17beta-estradiol (Aerodiol; Servier, Chambrayles-Tours, France) on OA and CRA blood flow using color duplex sonography.

RESULTS

The peak systolic and end diastolic velocities of the CRA were increased significantly after 17beta-estradiol administration compared with placebo. A significant decrease was also found in the pulsatility and resistive indices of the CRA. However, there were no statistically significant differences in OA flow velocities or pulsatility and resistive indices.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal 17beta-estradiol administration in postmenopausal women causes an improvement in the ocular vascular Doppler indices. These results suggest that there could be a positive effect of Aerodiol on middle-sized arteries and arterioles.