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Hormone replacement therapy leads to increased plasma levels of platelet derived microparticles in postmenopausal women

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Whereas prevention of cardiovascular diseases by hormonal replacement therapy is still part of an ongoing debate, well-defined data are available relating hormonal replacement therapy to an elevated risk of venous thrombosis and embolism. Although it seems that venous thrombosis in patients treated with hormonal replacement therapy is linked to changes in plasmatic coagulation, less is known about the role of platelet-derived microparticles, as well as endothelial cell-derived microparticles.

Patients and methods

In this prospective case–control study, levels of microparticles were investigated in postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (n = 15) and compared to age-matched controls (n = 15).

Results

Total count of microparticles and the subgroup of microparticles derived from endothelial cells did not differ in the investigated groups. In contrast, median levels of microparticles derived from platelet/megacaryocyte were higher in women taking hormonal replacement therapy (5,244 × 106/l) than in controls (2,803 × 106/l; p = 0.040). Furthermore, hormonal replacement therapy led to a higher plasma level of microparticles derived from activated platelets, exposing P-selectin (136 × 106/l vs. 58 × 106/l; p = 0.011), or exposing CD63 (171 × 106 vs. 91 × 106/l; p = 0.011) compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Higher concentrations of microparticles derived from (activated) platelets/megacaryocytes were present in postmenopausal women taking hormonal replacement therapy. This finding indicates a procoagulant state in these women and might play a role in the development of venous side effects. In contrast, levels of endothelial cell-derived microparticles did not differ.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Marianne Vogel and Andrea Peichl for technical assistance as well as Maren vondemBusche for help in acquisition of the study population. We are very grateful to Kathleen Hiller for her careful review and editing of the manuscript as a native speaker from Iowa, USA. “FöFoLe” of Ludwig-Maximilian-University funded Bettina Toth and her study team for her research investigation “Plasma levels of circulating microparticles in postmenopausal women under Hormone replacement therapy”. Fund amounts 7.500 Euro for this project.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156, Augsburg, Germany

    Andreas Rank

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Rienk Nieuwland

  3. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Klinikum der Ludwig Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Katharina Nikolajek

  4. Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany

    Sabine Rösner, Lisa-Maria Wallwiener & Bettina Toth

  5. Medizinische Klinik III, Klinikum der Ludwig Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Erhard Hiller

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  1. Andreas Rank
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Correspondence to Andreas Rank.

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Rank, A., Nieuwland, R., Nikolajek, K. et al. Hormone replacement therapy leads to increased plasma levels of platelet derived microparticles in postmenopausal women. Arch Gynecol Obstet 285, 1035–1041 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2098-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2098-0

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