Estrogen replacement decreases the level of antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease

Hoogerbrugge, N.; Zillikens, M.C.; Jansen, H.; Meeter, K.; Deckers, J.W.; Birkenhäger, J.C.

« Previous Next »Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental
Volume 47, Issue 6 , Pages 675-680, June 1998

Estrogen replacement decreases the level of antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease☆

N. Hoogerbrugge
- Address reprint requests to N. Hoogerbrugge, MD, PhD, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
M.C. Zillikens
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
H. Jansen
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
K. Meeter
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J.W. Deckers
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J.C. Birkenhäger
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dijkzigt Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 18 June 1997; accepted 10 December 1997.

Abstract

The effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on plasma lipid concentrations and oxidation parameters was studied in 25 hypercholesterolemic women with coronary heart disease (CHD). During ERT, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) concentration decreased from 4.31 ± 0.72 to 3.85 ± 0.62 mmol/L (P < .01) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) increased from 1.42 ± 0.30 to 1.55 ± 0.33 mmol/L (P < .01). The concentration of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL decreased from 25.9 ± 22.0 to 22.7 ± 19.9 mg/L (P < .05), indicating that ERT may have antioxidative effects in vivo. The lag time to oxidation and the LDL subclass pattern did not change. Analysis of the influence of smoking on the efficacy of ERT showed that ERT significantly affected LDLc and HDLc concentrations in 15 nonsmoking women. However, in 10 cigarette smokers, no significant changes in LDLc or HDLc levels were observed. Smoking did not affect the concentration of autoantibodies to oxidized LDL or the lag time. Medroxyprogesterone acetate ([MPA] 10 mg daily) added to ERT decreased HDLc by 9% (P < .01) but did not affect the LDLc level, LDL subclass pattern, or lag time. In conclusion, ERT may have antioxidative effects in vivo and favorably affects dyslipidemia in hypercholesterolemic women with CHD, especially when they refrain from smoking.

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