Hormone replacement therapy in women with rheumatic diseases

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases has clearly increased during the last decades. Women with rheumatic diseases, especially when using corticosteroids, are in a high risk of osteoporotic fractures and atherosclerotic disease, which cause significant morbidity and mortality in later life. In this review, the benefits and risks of HRT in postmenopausal women are reviewed in general and, in particular, in women with rheumatic diseases.