White matter hyperintensities, hot flushes and estrogen – are they related?. (2nd November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pines, A.
• Is Part Of: Climacteric. Volume 18:Number 6(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 775
• Page End: 776
• Publication Date: 2015-11-02
• Subjects: WHITE MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES -- MENOPAUSE -- HOT FLUSHES -- HORMONE THERAPY; Menopause -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Estrogen Replacement Therapy -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; 612.665
• DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2015.1070253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-7137

Abstract

Abstract : White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are areas of high intensity observed in brain MRI scans. They are usually seen in normal aging but also in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. One of the underlying mechanisms is ischemia, expressed as small vessel disease. Since the volume of WMH may correlate with cognition, and an ongoing debate links postmenopausal hormone therapy with stroke and a decline in certain cognitive domains, several MRI studies have addressed this potential association. Two major randomized, placebo-controlled trials – WHIMS and KEEPS, the first including elderly women and the second recruiting recently menopausal women, did not demonstrate any safety concerns in this respect in hormone users.