Progesterone increases resistance of ophthalmic and central retinal arteries in climacteric women

Souza, Marco Aurélio Martins de; Souza, Bruno Martins de; Geber, Selmo

doi:10.3109/13697137.2012.720620

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In fact, in central retinal artery and in ophthalmic artery vascular resistance is lower and blood flow velocity is higher in premenopausal women in which endogenous estrogen levels are naturally higher, or in women who received exogenous estrogens (Schmidl et al, 2015), than in postmenopausal women exposed or not to HRT (Toker et al, 2003a; Faria et al, 2011). In contrast, androgens (Dechênes et al, 2010) and progesterone (Viana et al, 2011; Souza et al, 2013) reduce retinal blood flow by antagonizing estrogen activity.…”

Section: Effect Of Gonadal Hormones On Ocular Hemodynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Hormones and Optic Nerve Disorders: A Review

et al. 2019

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Aim: This review article presents a comprehensive overview of the literature on sex hormones (estrogens, androgens, progesterone) and optic nerve disorders, with a discussion of the implications for therapy and prevention.Methods: Epidemiological, pre-clinical and clinical studies were reviewed.Results: Analysis of the biological basis for a relationship between eye diseases and sex hormones showed that some types of hormones can exert a protective effect either directly on the retina and optic nerve or indirectly by modulating ocular blood flow. For example, it seems that estrogen exposure has a protective effect against glaucoma, whereas its deficit may lead to early onset of the disease. If further studies confirm the data in the literature, estrogen therapy, because of its antioxidant action, may be effective in the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, whereas, in the light of current studies, there does not seem to be an influence of estrogen on non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuritis (NAION).Conclusions: Although there is some evidence that in some optic nerve pathologies the sex hormones seem to play an important role there are still too few studies providing evidence for its wider use in clinical practice.

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Section: Effect Of Gonadal Hormones On Ocular Hemodynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Hormones and Optic Nerve Disorders: A Review

et al. 2019

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“…Progesterone exerts a vasoconstrictive effect on ocular blood flow. As demonstrated by color Doppler imaging ( 75 ), progesterone increases the resistance of ophthalmic and retinal arteries. In women of reproductive age, progesterone was found to antagonize the vasodilatory effect of estrogen during the menstrual cycle, as measured with the pulsatility index of the central retinal artery ( 76 ).…”

Section: Effect Of Sex Hormones On Ocular Blood Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gonadal Hormones and Retinal Disorders: A Review

et al. 2018

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AimGonadal hormones are essential for reproductive function, but can act on neural and other organ systems, and are probably the cause of the large majority of known sex differences in function and disease. The aim of this review is to provide evidence for this hypothesis in relation to eye disorders and to retinopathies in particular.MethodsEpidemiological studies and research articles were reviewed.ResultsAnalysis of the biological basis for a relationship between eye diseases and hormones showed that estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors are present throughout the eye and that these steroids are locally produced in ocular tissues. Sex hormones can have a neuroprotective action on the retina and modulate ocular blood flow. There are differences between the male and the female retina; moreover, sex hormones can influence the development (or not) of certain disorders. For example, exposure to endogenous estrogens, depending on age at menarche and menopause and number of pregnancies, and exposure to exogenous estrogens, as in hormone replacement therapy and use of oral contraceptives, appear to protect against age-related macular degeneration (both drusenoid and neurovascular types), whereas exogenous testosterone therapy is a risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy. Macular hole is more common among women than men, particularly in postmenopausal women probably owing to the sudden drop in estrogen production in later middle age. Progestin therapy appears to ameliorate the course of retinitis pigmentosa. Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, may be more common among men than women.ConclusionWe observed a correlation between many retinopathies and sex, probably as a result of the protective effect some gonadal hormones may exert against the development of certain disorders. This may have ramifications for the use of hormone therapy in the treatment of eye disease and of retinal disorders in particular.

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“…In a placebo-controlled study in postmenopausal women, 30 days treatment with progestin induced a significant increase in all Doppler indices in the central retinal and the ophthalmic artery. 179 A prospective study in premenopausal women, in which pulsatility index of the central retinal arteries was measured during all menstrual phases, also came to the conclusion that estrogen leads to vasodilatation that is antagonized by progesterone. 180 Interestingly, low progesterone levels showed a strong correlation with the presence of retinal arteriosclerosis in men.…”

Section: The Influence Of Sex Hormones On Ocular Blood Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences in Ocular Blood Flow

Schmidl

Schmetterer

Garhöfer

et al. 2014

Current Eye Research

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Gender medicine has been a major focus of research in recent years. The present review focuses on gender differences in the epidemiology of the most frequent ocular diseases that have been found to be associated with impaired ocular blood flow, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Data have accumulated indicating that hormones have an important role in these diseases, since there are major differences in the prevalence and incidence between men and pre- and post-menopausal women. Whether this is related to vascular factors is, however, not entirely clear. Interestingly, the current knowledge about differences in ocular vascular parameters between men and women is sparse. Although little data is available, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are most likely important regulators of blood flow in the retina and choroid, because they are key regulators of vascular tone in other organs. Estrogen seems to play a protective role since it decreases vascular resistance in large ocular vessels. Some studies indicate that hormone therapy is beneficial for ocular vascular disease in post-menopausal women. This evidence is, however, not sufficient to give any recommendation. Generally, remarkably few data are available on the role of sex hormones on ocular blood flow regulation, a topic that requires more attention in the future.

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Progesterone increases resistance of ophthalmic and central retinal arteries in climacteric women

Cited by 12 publications

References 17 publications

Sex Hormones and Optic Nerve Disorders: A Review

Sex Hormones and Optic Nerve Disorders: A Review

Gonadal Hormones and Retinal Disorders: A Review

Gender Differences in Ocular Blood Flow

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