The likelihood of developing lupus in postmenopausal women on HRT is rare but its existence deserves to be highlighted. Colombian researchers issue this warning in a study published in the scientific journal Plos One. “A woman who receives hormone replacement therapy is almost twice as likely to develop lupus as a woman who does not take HRT,” says Adriana Roja, a researcher at Rosario University in Bogota, Colombia.
Lupus erythematosus is the most common form of lupus, an autoimmune diseasechronic condition that occurs when the immune system attacks cells in the body. It manifests itself among other things by inflammation of the joints, reddening of the cheeks, cognitive or memory problems or even pulmonary difficulties.
The survey by Colombian academics is based on data from 7,000 studies carried out around the world on healthy women with lupus, some on HRT and others not.
Researchers say that a postmenopausal woman who is on hormone therapyis not necessarily going to have lupus. Other factors, in particular genetic, environmental and immunological, participate in the development of this pathology.
“This topic is not yet resolved and further studies are needed to answer the question of whether there is a relationship between hormones and the development of lupus or its exacerbation,” the press release concludes. university, taken over by AFP.
Lupus mainly affects women, aged 15 to 40. The disease affects around 40 people in 100,000 in France.
