Together with disadvantages and risks deriving from the use of estrogens in postmenopause, revealed by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, further trials were performed denying the cardiovascular dangerousness of these drugs used as substitutive hormone therapy. Now, coronary calcifications have been examined in 1.604 women between 50 and 59, randomized to receive conjugated equine estrogens (0,625 mg/die) or placebo; all women underwent cardiac tomography after an average period of 7,4 years of treatment and 1,3 years after trial interruption. The average score of coronary calcium resulted significantly lower in the women using estrogens; through an analysis restricted to the women having a compliance to estrogen or placebo intake of at least 80% for at least 5 years, researchers found that coronary calcium levels were lower of about 60% in the group treated with estrogens.
According to this trial, the use of estrogens in postmenopause has a coronary protective effect. It is the umpteenth attempt to justify a dangerous drug prescription: the risks of estrogens have been well documented and the fact that they have also some benefits takes nothing from their dangerousness. The present tendency is to use them in selected cases and for short periods: in these circumstances, the coronary protection has no role and it cannot be quoted as a reason for prescription.
