HRT shown to reduce fracture risk in women with osteoporosis - but increases risk of stroke
A new report has suggested that the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) tibolone could effectively reduce the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women.
However, the team did report an increase in stroke risk, especially among women aged over 70. For this reason, the trial was stopped in February 2006
The study was carried out by US researchers from a variety of institutions and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
In total, 4,538 women aged between 60 and 85 with signs of osteoporosis were offered either daily injections of tibolone or a placebo.
The trial lasted a total of 34 weeks and during this time, the tibolone group showed reduced risks of vertebral and non-vertebral fracture.
In addition, the tibolone group were less likely to suffer from invasive breast cancer and colon cancer.
As a result, Dr Steven Cummings and the rest of the team concluded: "Tibolone reduced the risk of fracture and breast cancer and possibly colon cancer but increased the risk of stroke in older women with osteoporosis."
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign commented: "A large clinical trial reported in 2002 that using the commonest type of HRT tablet is associated with a reduction in fracture, but also with an increase in the risk of heart disease and breast cancer. It can also increase the risk of venous thrombosis."
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