Estrogen use and radiographic osteoarthritis of the knee in women

Osteoarthritis is characterized by joint pain and inflammation, cartilage breakdown, and the formation of fibrous tissue and cysts on bones. It is the most common condition affecting the joints. The knee is the joint that is most frequently involved, resulting in reduced ability to walk. People with osteoarthritis visit their doctor twice as often and have more days of restricted mobility than people without this condition. Once osteoarthritis develops there is not much that can be done to alter the course of the disease. Estrogen therapy is used in postmenopausal women to protect against bone loss. Some have proposed that estrogen may increase bone mass and stiffness, and lead to cartilage damage and osteoarthritis. Previous studies have suggested that estrogen may be involved in the development of osteoarthritis in women. Since estrogen therapy is common in postmenopausal women, it is important to determine the relation between estrogen therapy and osteoarthritis. A group of 831 postmenopausal women, with an average age of 73 years, were evaluated for osteoarthritis of the knee. The women were divided into groups based on the amount and length of time of estrogen use. Radiography analysis of the knees showed no relation between estrogen use and osteoarthritis. In some cases a protective effect of estrogen was indicated, but the effect was not statistically significant. These findings demonstrate that estrogen does not increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)