Thromb Haemost 2000; 84(06): 968-972
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614157
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Unopposed Estrogen Increases Total Plasma Factor VII, but not Active Factor VII

A Short-term Placebo-controlled Study in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

Authors

  • Gerdien W. de Valk-de Roo

    1   From Department of Endocrinology, Research Institute for Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism, The Netherlands
  • Coen D. A. Stehouwer

    2   Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Jef J. Emeis

    3   Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Ans Nicolaas-Merkus

    2   Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Coen Netelenbos

    2   Department of Internal Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research-Vrije Universiteit, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

We are grateful to J.H. Morrissey, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, USA, for providing the truncated human tissue factor used in the assay for active FVII. Mrs. C. M. van den Hoogen, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, we thank for the expert technical assistance; Edo Westerveen, and Bas Joenje, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, we thank for the expert assistance in the execution of the study.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 June 2000

Accepted after resubmission 24 July 2000

Publication Date:
13 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Estrogen therapy may increase the risk of arterial thromboembolism, at least in the short term. In a randomized, double-blind and placebocontrolled study in 25 healthy postmenopausal women (52.5 ± 2.8 years), we therefore examined the short-term effect of unopposed estrogen on the fasting and fat-load-stimulated plasma levels of total factor VII versus active factor VII. Plasma total factor VII was measured by use of a chromogenic assay; plasma active FVII by a recently developed method using truncated tissue factor. As compared to placebo, 8 weeks of oral 17β-estradiol (2 mg daily) increased the mean fasting and postprandial plasma levels of total factor VII by 17 and 21% points, respectively (both P < 0.01), but did not affect the fasting and/or postprandial plasma levels of active factor VII (mean change both 0.05 ng/mL; P > 0.35). Furthermore, the change in the fasting level of total factor VII after therapy was not associated with the change in the fasting level of active factor VII (r = 0.27; P = 0.21). These findings argue against the idea that elevated levels of total factor VII underlie an increased risk of arterial thromboembolism in postmenopausal women using unopposed estrogen replacement.