Coronary arteriography in estrogen-treated postmenopausal women.

Four cross-sectional studies that used coronary arteriography to determine the extent of coronary atherosclerosis have provided some of the most convincing evidence that estrogen replacement reduces cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. One study of outcome in women undergoing coronary arteriography at baseline has found that the greatest improvement in total mortality occurred in women with significant coronary stenosis. Angiographic studies have also confirmed the importance of high-density lipoprotein in mediating the effect of estrogen and the beneficial effect of estrogen on endothelial function.