Ultrasonographic blood flow measurement in the carotid arteries in postmenopausal women

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate blood flow in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) compared to controls. Blood flow was ultrasonographically measured in the great arteries of the neck instead of in the vessels of the internal genital organs. Methods: Fifty healthy women with climacteric complaints, at least 6 months postmenopausal, participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group received 2 mg estradiol (E-2) for 12 days, continued with 2 mg E-2 and 1 mg norethisterone acetate for 10 days, followed by 1 mg E-2 for 6 days, cyclically during 6 months. The other group received placebo tablets the first 3 months and the same HRT as the first group for the last 3 months. Blood flow was measured ultrasonographically by color flow pulsed Doppler in the common (CCA), internal (ICA) and external (ECA) carotid arteries, before the start of the study, after 3 and 6 months of therapy. Results: CCA and ICA, both low resistance vessels, and EGA, a high resistance vessel, and their waveforms were identified. Pulsatility index did not decrease statistically significant (p > 0.05) in any of the great vessels during 6 months of HRT in this study. There were no differences in blood flow between the HRT-treated group compared to control group during 3 months of therapy, except for the right ECA (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The difference in blood flow and waveforms of the major arteries of the neck were clearly shown, but HRT did not have any important impact on the blood flow in this study. No difference was shown concerning blood flow between the two groups of postmenopausal women, on active therapy or placebo.