Estrogen does not prevent endothelial dysfunction caused by cigarette smoking

BACKGROUND: Estrogen favors endothelial function while acute tobacco use provokes dysfunction. Previous studies have not examined the effect of smoking one cigarette at different stages of the menstrual cycle. HYPOTHESIS: Favorable actions of estrogen on endothelial function are transitorily abolished by smoking one cigarette. METHODS: Brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation was measured noninvasively before, 10 min, and 1 h after smoking in 17 healthy premenopausal women. Studies were done in the first 3 days (early stage) and repeated between Days 9 and 13 of the menstrual cycle (middle stage). Estradiol was measured after each study. RESULTS: At basal conditions, women in the middle stage of their cycles, when estradiol was 20 times higher than in the early stage, had significantly more endothelial-dependent brachial dilatation. No difference in the marked depression caused by cigarette smoking was found between the two stages. One h recuperation was complete in both phases. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking abolishes the protection of circulating estrogen on endothelial function.