The influence of short-term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the blood pressure and daily urinary catecholamine excretion in a small group of post-menopausal women.

The blood pressure and daily urinary catecholamine excretion were examined in nineteen non-smoking post-menopausal women, receiving estrogen replacement therapy for a period of 4 months. The estrogens administered consisted of 17 beta-estradiol combined with estriol and norethisterone acetate administered sequentially (Trisequens, Novo, Denmark). Before the institution of treatment, the blood pressure and urinary catecholamine excretion were normal. After a period of 4 months, no change in blood pressure was observed. However, a marked and significant increase in daily urinary catecholamine excretion was noticed (72.3 +/- 18.96 micrograms/day to 102.0 +/- 26.0 micrograms: p less than 0.01). The pathogenetic implications of this increase are discussed.