Table 1.
Clinical trials investigating the effect of estrogens on blood pressure of normotensive postmenopausal women
| Source of trial | Year of trial | Age of subjects | Number of subjects | Route of administration of estrogens | Estrogens administered | BP measurement mode | Effects of estrogens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHI58 | 2004 | 63.6 | ∼10,000 | Oral | CEE 0.625 mg | Office | ↑ systolic BP |
| Wren59 | 1981 | 52 | 160 | Oral | E1 sulphate + CEE 0.625 mg | 24-h | ↓ BP ↑ BP |
| EPAT61 | 2008 | 61 | 222 | Oral | E2 1 mg | Office | ↑ systolic BP in younger ↓ diastolic BP in older |
| Akkad63 | 1997 | 30–59 | 90 | Transdermal Oral |
E2 0.05 mg E2 + E3 + E1 |
24-h | ↓ nocturnal systolic BP ↓ diastolic BP =24-h BP |
| Cardoso62 | 2011 | 45–60 | 47 | Oral | E2V 1 mg | 24-h | ↑ systolic BP ↑ diastolic BP |
| Vongpatanasin64 | 2001 | 53 | 12 | Transdermal Oral |
E2 0.2 mg CEE 0.625 mg |
24-h | ↓ 24-h BP =24-h BP |
| Cagnacci65 | 1999 | 53.5 | 18 | Transdermal | E2 0.05 mg | 24-h | ↓ nocturnal systolic BP ↓ nocturnal diastolic BP ↓ nocturnal mean BP |
| Driul66 | 2005 | 51.3 | 46 | Transdermal | E2 0.05 mg | 24-h | ↓ diurnal diastolic BP ↓ nocturnal diastolic BP |
Abbreviations: 24-h, 24-hour; BP, blood pressure; CEE, conjugated equine estrogen; EPAT, Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial; E1, estrone; E2, estradiol; E2V, oral estradiol valerate; E3, estriol; WHI, Women’s Health Initiative; ↓, decrease; ↑, increase; =, no change.