Key result
Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery varied significantly across the menstrual cycle (P<0.001), with the highest response during the late follicular phase and the lowest during the early luteal phase.
Why the study?
Does endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated dilation, vary during different phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy premenopausal women?
Observational (n=21)
No
Does endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated dilation, vary during different phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy premenopausal women?
p-value: p=<0.001
Endothelial function varies significantly across the menstrual cycle, suggesting that ovarian steroids play an important role in modulating vascular reactivity.
Endothelial assessments in premenopausal women may require menstrual-phase standardization; leaves open effects on risk stratification or trial design.
OBJECTIVE: It is well defined that ovarian steroids play a role in the cardiovascular system, acting as vasoactive compounds. The aim of this study is to assess the endothelial function during the menstrual cycle using flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery. METHODS: A total of 21 healthy premenopausal women, with regular menstrual cycles, were included in this observational, longitudinal, and prospective study. The endothelium function was assessed by ultrasound during four phases of the menstrual cycle: early follicular phase (EFP), late follicular phase (LFP), early luteal phase (ELP) and late luteal phase (LLP). RESULTS: We observed a significant variation among the vasodilatation response during the menstrual cycle phases (P<0.001). The result was higher during LFP than during ELP (P<0.001) or LLP (P<0.001). Late luteal phase had higher response than observed during ELP (P=0.003) and EFP was higher than LLP (P=0.003). There were no significant differences between the results observed during EFP and LFP (P=1.0), or EFP and ELP (P=0.137). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the ovarian steroids may play an important role in modulating endothelial function.
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Brandão et al. (2014) conducted an observational in Healthy premenopausal women (n=21). Menstrual cycle phases vs. Comparisons between early follicular, late follicular, early luteal, and late luteal phases was evaluated on Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery (p=<0.001). Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery varied significantly across the menstrual cycle (P<0.001), with the highest response during the late follicular phase and the lowest during the early luteal phase.
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