EFFECTS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON CANCELLOUS BONE MICROSTRUCTURE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Menopausal bone loss is associated crith disruption of cancellous bone architecture which has adverse mechanical effects and is believed to be irreversible, The aim of this study was to examine the effects of l ong-term hormone replacement therapy on cancellous bone structure in w omen with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Iliac crest biopsies from 22 wo men with osteopenia or osteoporosis were obtained before and after hor mone replacement therapy (mean duration 23.5 months). Cancellous bone architecture was assessed by strut analysis, trabecular bone pattern f actor, and marrow star volume. Post-treatment biopsies showed no signi ficant changes in any of the structural indices assessed, Our results suggest that hormone replacement therapy preserves existing cancellous bone structure but provide no evidence that this treatment is able to reverse structural disruption in women with postmenopausal osteopenia or osteoporosis.