SAFETY OF HORMONAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

It remains controversial whether administration of exogenous estrogens is safe in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The current study was undertaken to determine the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT ) on the rate and magnitude of flares in a cohort of postmenopausal SL E patients. Thirty-four patients were prospectively followed. The freq uency and severity of disease exacerbations in 11 patients who receive d HRT was compared with 23 patients who did not receive HRT. Our resul ts showed that both users and non-users of HRT had a comparable age of disease onset, duration of disease, clinical manifestations, and dura tion of follow-up. No significant increase in the rate (0.12 relapses/ patient-pear in HRT,group vs 0.16 relapses/patient-year in the non-HRT group, p=0.90) or magnitude (total SLEDAI score increase during flare s/patient-year in the HRT and non-HRT groups were 0.55 and 1.22, respe ctively, p = 0.57) of flares could be demonstrated in patients who rec eived HRT over a median follow-up period of 35 months. We concluded th at HRT appeared to be well tolerated and safe in postmenopausal SLE pa tients. Its potential beneficial effect may outweigh its deleterious e ffect on disease activity.