Post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy and stroke risk

This paper will review available data bearing on the relationship of post-m enopausal hormone replacement therapy to the risk of first or recurrent isc haemic stroke. Although experimental data from both human and animal studie s will be briefly mentioned, the bulk of evidence is from observational epi demiological studies. As such, the limitations of observational studies, pa rticularly as applied to the health effects of post-menopausal hormone repl acement therapy, will be emphasized. We conclude that there is no compellin g consistent evidence that post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy eith er decreases or increases stroke risk. There are, however, reasons to be co ncerned that this therapy may contribute to stroke risk.