Objective: 

Menopause is often accompanied by degenerative processes such as arteriosclerosis that suggests an acceleration of aging triggered by estrogen deficiency. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been considered the most suitable treatment for the above symptoms and processes. This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of HRT on some of the arteriosclerotic risk factors such as the serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-CH, LDL-CH tryglicerydes), inhibitor of fibrinolysis - plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1Ag (PAI-1 Ag), and factor VII of coagulation in postmenopausal women.

Methods: 

A total number of 32 women at post-menopausal phase with application of HRT for six months were examined. Lipid concentrations were determined with standard colorimetric- spectrophotometric method. The concentration of PAI-1 Ag was determined by using immuno-enzymatic method and the concentration of factor VII of coagulation with the method of deficient plasma.

Results: 

Statistical analysis has shown that HRT applied in post-menopausal women within a six-month period significantly decreased the concentration of LDL-CH (p<0.05), of PAI-1 Ag and factor VII of coagulation (p< 0.001) but significantly increased the HDL-CH serum concentration (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in the level of tryglicerides and total cholesterol.

Conclusions: 

There was a significant decrease of atherogenic risk factors (LDL-CH, PAI-1 Ag and factor VII of coagulation) as well as significant increase of protective factors (HDL-CH) in post-menopausal women treated with HRT. Thus, the present findings justify the application of this therapy in post-menopausal women.