No Easy Marker for CHD Risk in Women Who Use HT

Certain markers of coronary heart disease were affected by HT but did not predict CHD risk.

The trials in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) that tested whether conjugated equine estrogen with or without progestin would lower risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) were terminated early because of excess risk for cardiovascular events associated with hormone therapy. Now, researchers have analyzed the association between CHD and markers of inflammation, lipid metabolism, thrombosis, and genetic polymorphisms in 359 women with CHD (case patients) and 820 matched controls in the WHI to investigate the mechanism for excess CHD risk in participants who used HT.

In adjusted analyses at baseline, abnormal levels of 12 of 23 biomarkers (interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase 9, leukocyte count, low HDL cholesterol, elevated LDL cholestero…

Reviewing Author

Wendy S. Biggs, MD