Influencia de los esteroides sexuales sobre el índice de resistencia a la insulina HOMAIR y presión arterial durante el ciclo menstrual

objective: to evaluate sex steroids and fasting insulin during menstrual cycle and its relationship with blood pressure and anthropometric variables. method: blood pressure and heart rate were measured in the morning and afternoon during follicular and luteal phase in 17 women with normal menstrual cycles. body mass index and waist:hip ratio were calculated. plasma levels of fasting insulina, estradiol and progesterone were measured in both phases of menstrual cycle. the insulin resistance index homair was calculated. setting: endocrinology unit at los andes university hospital, merida, venezuela results: blood pressure and heart rate did not change during menstrual cycle. no correlation was found between blood pressure, sex steroids and insulinemia. circadian changes were not observed in blood pressure. waist: hip ratio was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure during follicular phase. conclusions: in resting conditions, blood pressure and heart rate do not modify during menstrual cycle. adiposity and regional fat distribution might modulate blood pressure during early life.