Summary
The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on thrombosis risk, thrombotic variables,
and the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) may vary by route of administration
(oral versus transdermal). We studied the relationships of 14 thrombotic variables
(previously related to cardiovascular risk) and CRP to menopausal status and to use
of HRT subtypes in a cross-sectional study of 975 women aged 40-59 years. Our study
confirmed previously-reported associations between thrombotic variables and menopausal
status. Oral HRT use was associated with increased plasma levels of Factor IX, activated
protein C (APC) resistance, and CRP; and with decreased levels of tissue plasminogen
activator (t-PA) antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity. Factor
VII levels were higher in women taking unopposed oral oestrogen HRT. The foregoing
associations were not observed in users of transdermal HRT; hence they may be consequences
of the “first-pass” effect of oral oestrogens on hepatic protein synthesis. We conclude
that different effects of oral and transdermal HRT on thrombotic and inflammatory
variables may be relevant to their relative thrombotic risk; and suggest that this
hypothesis should be tested in prospective, randomised studies.
Keywords
Oestrogens - menopause - C-reactive protein - coagulation - fibrinolysis