Arterial Hypertension in Menopausal Women. Hormone Replacement Therapy in Complex Antihypertensive Treatment

Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology Medical University – Sofia

 

Abstract: 

The menopause consitutes an important physiological change in women's life and usual¬ly takes place around 51 years of age. Because of the increasing life expectancy, by the year 2000 the women aged 45 and more will con¬stitute about 1/4 of the world population. This fact accounts for the growing interest in women in pre- and postmenopause and their health problems. The cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in women and their inci¬dence increases dramatically after the meno¬pause sets in. Arterial hypertension is less com¬mon in women than in men before the time of the menopause thereafter its prevalance in women increases. Whether the menopause „perse" contributes to the age-related increase in blood pressure in women is controversial. Cross-sectional studies have established higher blood pressure among post-menopausal than preme¬nopausal women at a certain age, while longi¬tudinal studies have not confirmed these find¬ings.

Hormone replacement therapy is the basis of current prevention of cardiovascular dis¬eases. The mechanisms of its vasoprotective effect are complex and involve alterations in endothelial function, smooth muscle cell prolife¬ration, vascular reactivity and in lipid metabo¬lism. Further studies are needed to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension in menopausal women.

 

Keywords: arterial     hypertension, menopause,     hormone    replacement    therapy.