This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reis, S. E. Articles by Murali, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reis, S. E. Articles by Murali, S.

(Circulation. 1998;97:23-25.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Rapid Communications

Conjugated Estrogens Acutely Abolish Abnormal Cold-Induced Coronary Vasoconstriction in Male Cardiac Allografts

Steven E. Reis, MD; Vishwajeth Bhoopalam, MD; Kathleen A. Zell, BSN; Peter J. Counihan, MD; A. J. Conrad Smith, MD; Si Pham, MD; ; Srinivas Murali, MD

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery (S.P.), University of Pittsburgh (Pa) School of Medicine.

Correspondence to Steven E. Reis, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Background—Transplant-associated coronary arteriopathy is manifested in its early stages by paradoxical coronary artery constriction in response to endothelium-dependent vasodilator stimuli such as the cold pressor test (CPT) and is a major cause of death or retransplantation. Estrogen has vasoactive properties that abolish coronary artery endothelial dysfunction in native hearts. We hypothesized that estrogen attenuates inappropriate coronary artery constriction in cardiac allografts.

Methods and Results—Coronary artery diameter and systemic hemodynamic responses to a 90-second CPT were measured before and 15 minutes after double-blind, randomized administration of intravenous conjugated estrogens (1.25 mg) or placebo in men with male cardiac allografts. Before estrogen, 9 men exhibited an abnormal 15.1±3.0% CPT-induced decrease in coronary artery diameter. However, repeat CPT did not induce significant coronary artery constriction when performed 15 minutes after estrogen. CPT responses before and after estrogen were significantly different (P=.02). Placebo did not influence coronary artery responses to CPT in 6 men. Systemic hemodynamic responses to CPT were not influenced by estrogen or placebo. Estrogen was the only significant determinant of changes in coronary artery responses to CPT.

Conclusions—Conjugated estrogens acutely abolish abnormal CPT-induced coronary artery constriction in male cardiac allografts. This favorable vasomotor effect suggests that estrogen may prevent inappropriate coronary artery constriction in men with cardiac transplants.

Key Words: transplantation • hormones • endothelium • coronary disease • atherosclerosis

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Xue, Y. Zhao, A. K. Johnson, and M. Hay Central estrogen inhibition of angiotensin II-induced hypertension in male mice and the role of reactive oxygen species Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2008; 295(3): H1025 - H1032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Tsuda, I. Nishio, M. Weis, J. P. Cooke, K. Y. Lin, S. N. Panchal, S.Z. Gao, H. A. Valantine, T. N. Kledal, and E. S. Mocarski Sex Hormones and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in Transplant Arteriosclerosis * Response Circulation, July 20, 2004; 110(3): e21 - e22. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Mendelsohn and G. M.C. Rosano Hormonal Regulation of Normal Vascular Tone in Males Circ. Res., December 12, 2003; 93(12): 1142 - 1145. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Adamopoulos, D. Leftheriotis, E. Sbarouni, G. Karavolias, and D. T. Kremastinos Acute haemodynamic effects of oestrogen administration in male patients with chronic heart failure Eur J Heart Fail, December 1, 2002; 4(6): 719 - 726. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Polvani, M. R. Marino, M. Roberto, L. Dainese, A. Parolari, G. Pompilio, S. D. Matteo, A. Fumero, A. Cannata, F. Barili, et al. Acute effects of 17{beta}-estradiol on left internal mammary graft after coronary artery bypass grafting Ann. Thorac. Surg., September 1, 2002; 74(3): 695 - 699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Dubey, S. Oparil, B. Imthurn, and E. K. Jackson Sex hormones and hypertension Cardiovasc Res, February 15, 2002; 53(3): 688 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Komesaroff, M. Fullerton, M. D. Esler, A. Dart, G. Jennings, and K. Sudhir Low-Dose Estrogen Supplementation Improves Vascular Function in Hypogonadal Men Hypertension, November 1, 2001; 38(5): 1011 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Manolagas and S. Kousteni Perspective: Nonreproductive Sites of Action of Reproductive Hormones Endocrinology, June 1, 2001; 142(6): 2200 - 2204. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Dubey and E. K. Jackson Estrogen-induced cardiorenal protection: potential cellular, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, March 1, 2001; 280(3): F365 - F388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. A. Walker, T. S. Dean, T. A. B. Sanders, G. Jackson, J. M. Ritter, and P. J. Chowienczyk The Phytoestrogen Genistein Produces Acute Nitric Oxide-Dependent Dilation of Human Forearm Vasculature With Similar Potency to 17{beta}-Estradiol Circulation, January 16, 2001; 103(2): 258 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Sudhir and P. A. Komesaroff Cardiovascular Actions of Estrogens in Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1999; 84(10): 3411 - 3415. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Mendelsohn and R. H. Karas The Protective Effects of Estrogen on the Cardiovascular System N. Engl. J. Med., June 10, 1999; 340(23): 1801 - 1811. [Full Text] [PDF]