HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS - A CASE-REPORT

There is an increased incidence of osteoporosis in patients with chron ic liver disease. Because patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) usually require corticosteroids for their liver disease prevention an d treatment of bone loss presents a difficult problem. This case repor t describes a 41 year old female patient with CAH who had a high rate of bone loss. After an early menopause with noticeable menopausal symp toms, she was given transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy. The men opausal symptoms resolved completely, and there was no deterioration i n her liver function tests or corticosteroid requirement. In addition, follow up quantitative bone mineral measurements over two years have shown improvement. This case shows the value of measurements of bone d ensity, and oestrogen replacement therapy in CAH, even in the presence of continued corticosteroids.