ADJUVANT ESTROGEN THERAPY DOES NOT IMPROVE DISEASE-ACTIVITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective-To investigate whether oestrogens can be used as treatment t o diminish disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Method s-Forty postmenopausal female patients with active rheumatoid arthriti s participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study on the poss ible beneficial effect of adjuvant treatment of oestradiol on disease activity. Results-Thirty three patients completed 52 weeks of treatmen t with 2 mg oestradiolvalerate or placebo. No statistically significan t difference was found in and between both treatment groups with regar d to articular indices, pain score by visual analogue scale, erythrocy te sedimentation rate and health questionnaire on daily activities bef ore, during and at the end of the study. Conclusion-This first randomi sed prospective placebo-controlled study shows no beneficial effect of oestrogens on disease activity in postmenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.