Menopause International > Volume 15, Number 3 > Pp. 107-112

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Original articles

Nocturnal transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension in postmenopausal estrogen users and non-users

Jenni Aittokallio ^* , Jukka Hiissa , Tarja Saaresranta ^* , Päivi Polo-Kantola ^* , Tero Aittokallio ^*  and Olli Polo ^* **

^* Sleep Research Unit, Department of Physiology
Biomathematics Research Group, Department of Mathematics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Department of Pulmonary Diseases
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland
^** Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

Correspondence: Jenni Aittokallio, Sleep Research Unit, University of Turku, Dentalia, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, 20520 Turku, Finland. Email: jemato{at}utu.fi
Objective. The effect of menopause on breathing is not fully understood. We have previously shown that postmenopausal women have a higher sleep-induced increase in transcutaneously measured carbon dioxide tension (TcCO₂) than premenopausal women. Therefore, we hypothesized that estrogen therapy (ET) would normalize this sleep-induced TcCO₂ increase.

Methods. Nine postmenopausal ET users and nine non-users went through an overnight polygraphic sleep study including continuous monitoring of TcCO₂.

Results. TcCO₂ levels were higher during sleep than evening wakefulness (awake median 6.55 kPa versus sleep median 6.90 kPa, P = 0.001). ET users had a greater sleep-induced increase in TcCO₂ than non-users when comparing the difference between wakefulness and slow-wave sleep (0.85 kPa versus 0.28 kPa, P = 0.004). Lower sleep efficiency was associated with higher sleep-induced increase in TcCO₂.

Conclusions. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, postmenopausal ET users have a higher sleep-induced increase in TcCO₂ than women without ET. Thus, TcCO₂ may be sensitive in measuring the peripheral estrogen effect. These findings warrant placebo-controlled intervention studies to confirm the effects of ET on TcCO₂ measurements.

Key Words: Sleep • transcutaneous carbon dioxide • menopause • estrogen • arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation

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This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Aittokallio, T. Saaresranta, A. Virkki, N. Karppinen, O. J. Heinonen, T. Aittokallio, and O. Polo Transcutaneous carbon dioxide profile during sleep reveals metabolic risk factors in post-menopausal females Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2009; 34(5): 1132 - 1139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]