The efficacy of hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a Meta-analysis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The literature about HRT in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were searched.Eleven papers were subjected to a Meta-analysis and a heterogeneity test was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of HRT.Results HRT reduced the level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in RA patients (P=0.016),the SMD was-0.22(-0.40,-0.04); improved bone mineral density (BMD) in RA patients (P=0.022),the WMD was 2.83(0.41,5.26); decreased clinical parameters for disease activity evaluations of RA patients (P=0.048),the SMD was-0.19 (-0.38,0.00); decreased the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in RA patients,the SMD was-0.08 (-0.37,0.21),but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.591).Conclusion The findings from this Meta-analysis indicate that HRT can reduce the ESR level,improve clinical indexes and improve BMD level of RA patients.HRT may suppress disease activity and osteoporosis of RA patients,so it may be used as an auxiliary therapy in the treatment of RA.