RESEARCH - Hormone replacement therapy has no effect on RA

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Has No Effect on Rheumatoid Arthritis

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 14 - Hormone replacement therapy in

postmenopausal women appears to affect neither the risk of developing

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) nor the severity of arthritis, researchers

report in the March 15th issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

The findings, lead investigator Dr. Walitt told Reuters Health,

show " that women should not take hormone replacement therapy with the

hopes of reducing their risk of RA or significantly easing their

symptoms. "

Dr. Walitt of town University Medical Center, Washington, DC and

colleagues came to this conclusion after studying data from the

Women's Health Initiative trials involving more than 27,000 women,

which evaluated the effects of postmenopausal estrogen, estrogen and

progestin, and placebo on various health outcomes. They were followed

for as long as 7.1 years.

There were 63 prevalent and 103 incident cases of RA. There was trend

towards a reduction in the risk of RA with hormone therapy. However,

after adjustment, an apparent improvement in scoring was lost. There

was a trend towards a reduction in joint pain, but no reduction in

swelling or in prevention of new joint pain.

Summing up, Dr. Walitt said that for rheumatoid arthritis, " these days

there are many effective treatments available, but hormone replacement

therapy is not one of them. "

Arthritis Rheum 2008;59:302-310.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571526

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