Left ventricular function and autonomic nervous system balance during two different stages of the menstrual cycle

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 243 - 246
• Main Authors: Fuenmayor, Abdel J., Ramı́rez, Leonardo, Fuenmayor, Abdel M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15-02-2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Echocardiography, Doppler; Estradiol - blood; Female; Follicular Phase - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart; Heart - innervation; Humans; Left ventricular function; Luteal Phase - physiology; Menstrual cycle; Progesterone - blood; Tropical medicine; Valsalva Maneuver - physiology; Valsalva manoeuvre; Ventricular Function, Left - physiology; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Menstrual cycle; Valsalva manoeuvre; Left ventricular function; Human; Autonomic nervous system; Evolution; Exploration; Circulatory system; Progesterone; Left ventricle performance; Estradiol
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-5273(99)00193-X

We studied the left ventricular function and cardiac autonomic nervous system balance variations during two different stages of the menstrual cycle. These two variables, as well as plasmatic estradiol and progesterone concentrations, were measured in a drug-free state in 20 women (29±6 year-old) with regular menstrual periods. A clinical evaluation, an echo-Doppler and a Valsalva manoeuvre were performed in all the patients on the third day of their menstrual cycle (follicular phase) and three days prior to their next menstrual cycle (luteinizing phase). When comparing the results obtained in these two phases, a statistically significant increase was put forward in plasmatic estradiol (50.6±24 vs. 127.3±52.8 pg/ml) and progesterone (0.37±0.42 vs. 11.92±10.8 ng/ml) concentrations, Valsalva index (1.55±0.22 vs. 1.67±0.33;
P=0.044) and
E/
A mitral wave ratio (1.63±0.36 vs.1.75±0.35,
P=0.02). The right and left atrial volumes, left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were similar in the two menstrual phases studied. We conclude that the autonomic nervous system balance and the left ventricular diastolic function suffer significant changes during the luteinizing phase of the menstrual cycle in normal women.