Abstract

ABSTRACT :
BACKGROUND:
Hypertension in postmenopausal women is a risk factor for endometrial hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether the endometrium of hypertensive postmenopausal women is thicker than that
of non hypertensive postmenopausal women, to determine whether this thickening is directly
related to the antihypertensive drugs and whether is associated with abnormal pathology.
METHODS:
A Case control study of Forty five hypertensive asymptomatic postmenopausal women was
conducted in Al Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, (22) were treated with B- blockers combination
medication and (23) were treated with other medications. They were compared with each and with
(25) non hypertensive women. All women were interviewed; blood tests were performed and
endometrial thickness in antero-posterior diameter was measured by vaginal ultrasonography.
Endometrial sampling had been taken for those with increased endometrial thickness more than
5mm.
RESULTS:
24.44% of hypertensive women and 4.00% of non hypertensive women had an endometrial
thickness more than 5mm. There was no statistically significant difference between those who
treated with medication including B- blocker and those who were treated with other medication.
The histological findings were mainly of endometrial hyperplasia for those with thickened
endometrium.
CONCLUSION:
Hypertension may have a role in endometrial thickness. We were unable to substantiate an
association between the type of treatment administered and the increase in endometrial thickness.
Those with increased endometrial thickness more than 5mm, the histological findings were mainly
of endometrial hyperplasia