Objective: The first step in atherosclerosis is characterized by the adherence of lymphocytes and monocytes to cell adhesion molecules expressed by endothelial cells. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the effect of tibolone on the circulating levels of various cell adhesion molecules.
Design: Thirty postmenopausal women were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled outpatient trial.
Results: Tibolone led to a significant decrease in soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-3, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, but had no effect on monocyte chemotactic protein-1.
Conclusions: The direct favorable effects of tibolone on endothelial cells may explain the clinical benefits of this substance in terms of anti-ischemic effects and osteoporosis prevention.