[Prevention of cardiovascular risk in menopause women: role of ovarian hormones].

Women receiving estrogen replacement therapy after menopause have a reduced risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality when compared to untreated controls. Estrogens are thought to protect women primarily through an effect on lipid metabolism. However estrogen-induced increase of HDL-cholesterol and decrease of total and LDL-cholesterol appear to account only in part for the protective effect of ovarian hormones. Direct effects of estrogens on the arterial wall appear to contribute to the over-all cardiovascular benefits.