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

Gerdien W. de Valk-de Roo; Coen D. A. Stehouwer; Jef J. Emeis; Ans Nicolaas-Merkus; Coen Netelenbos

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1614157

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

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

Gerdien W. de Valk-de Roo

¹From Department of Endocrinology, Research Institute for Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism, The Netherlands

,

Coen D. A. Stehouwer

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

,

Jef J. Emeis

³Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Leiden, The Netherlands

,

Ans Nicolaas-Merkus

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

,

Coen Netelenbos

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

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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.

Key words

Postmenopausal - estrogen - factor VII - postprandial

Full Text

References

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