Am Heart J. 2005 Nov;150(5):907-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2004.11.025.

Hormone therapy, C-reactive protein, and progression of atherosclerosis: data from the Estrogen Replacement on Progression of Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis (ERA) trial.

American heart journal

Susan G Lakoski, Bridget Brosnihan, David M Herrington

PMID: 16290959 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2004.11.025

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of estrogen and estrogen plus progestin on levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and to examine the relationship between these changes and progression of angiographically defined coronary disease.

METHODS: Baseline and follow-up (year 1 and year 3) plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP were measured in a subset of 232 patients from the Estrogen Replacement in Atherosclerosis (ERA) trial.

RESULTS: Serial angiograms were also available at baseline and closeout. Estrogen alone increased CRP by 40% (P = .01) at 1 year and 38% P = .002) at closeout. Estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate increased CRP by 44.7% P = .001) at 1 year and 54.7% P = .0001) at closeout as compared with baseline levels. There were no significant changes in IL-6 with either treatment. In women in the active treatment arm, change in CRP during the first year was not associated with progression of coronary disease P = .2).

CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen and estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone significantly raise CRP levels in women with established coronary disease. In contrast, IL-6 levels are not affected by estrogen or estrogen plus progestin. Estrogen-induced changes in CRP are not associated with progression of atherosclerosis.

Substances

• Interleukin-6
• Progestins
• C-Reactive Protein

MeSH terms

• Aged
• C-Reactive Protein / analysis
• Coronary Artery Disease / blood
• Disease Progression
• Double-Blind Method
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy*
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 / blood
• Progestins / therapeutic use

Publication Types

• Comparative Study
• Journal Article