Risk of hand osteoarthritis in new users of hormone replacement therapy: A nested case-control analysis

Hand osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterised by joint pain and bony enlargements/ swellings, occurring most frequently in postmenopausal women and the elderly [1,2]. To date, no diseasemodifying treatment is available [3]. The exact etiology of osteoarthritis is unknown but was suggested to be mainly mediated by metalloproteinases and aggrecanases [4]. The increase in incidence of hand osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women, the presence of estrogen receptors in cartilage, and estrogen potentially inhibiting factors involved in cartilage degradation suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help preventing the development of osteoarthritis [5].
Source: Maturitas - Category: Primary Care Authors: Source Type: research