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29 Feb 2008
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has no effect on the risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis pain in women, a study suggests.
Previous studies have looked at the effects of oestrogen on rheumatoid arthritis sufferers but the results have proved inconclusive.
The latest study of 27,000 women aged 50 to 79, found there were no significant differences in either rheumatoid arthritis risk or severity in postmenopausal women taking HRT compared with those taking placebos.
Authors behind the study, published in Arthritis Care and Research, said it provided "a unique opportunity" to examine the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy on rheumatoid arthritis.
"Despite the participation of 27,347 women, there was no statistically significant evidence of a difference in the hazard of rheumatoid arthritis incidence or a difference in rheumatoid arthritis symptom severity," they said.
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling and damage to cartilage and bone around the joints, commonly in hands, wrists and feet.
Women between 40 and 50-years-old appear to be most at risk of developing the condition.
Click here to learn more about arthritis
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