HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Objective, To test whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes an increase in lupus flares. Methods, Sixteen postmenopausal patients wi th systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had been taking HRT for at l east 12 months were included in the study. Thirty-two controls were ma tched to patients for age at start of hormone therapy and calendar yea r of followup. The incidence of disease flare was defined as any incre ase in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) ov er 12 months from baseline in these 2 groups; incidence of flare was c ompared by McNemar's test or Mantel-Haenszel test. Results. Control pa tients were older at diagnosis (38.8 vs 30.5 yrs) and at presentation to clinic (41 vs 30 yrs). HRT patients had longer disease duration (17 .9 vs 5.6 yrs), SLEDAI at presentation was similar in both groups. The re was no statistically significant difference in the rates of flares in both groups. Conclusion. The use of HRT in postmenopausal women wit h SLE does not appear to increase the rate of lupus flares over a one year followup.