Genome and hormones: Gender differences in physiology - Invited review: Pharmacogenetics of estrogen replacement therapy

There are a number of genetic factors that likely modulate both the benefic ial and adverse effects of estrogen. An important domain of consideration i s the relationship of estrogen and thrombosis risk. Gene polymorphisms amon g the key elements of the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascade appear to in fluence the effects of estrogen on risk for venous thromboembolic events an d possibly arterial thrombosis as well. Emerging data also suggest that all elic variants in the estrogen receptor-alpha may modulate estrogen's effect s, especially with respect to bone and lipid metabolism.