Exploring the use of estrogen & progesterone replacement therapy in subarachnoid hemorrhage

The hypothesis that alterations in hormone levels can impact on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rapidly gaining momentum. Specifically, the concept that post-menopausal women are more susceptible to the condition has convinced many of the protective roles of estrogen and progesterone. Here we review the mechanisms of their actions and the potential for estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Searches were performed using PubMed with the search terms "subarachnoid hemorrhage", "estrogen", "progesterone "treatment", "management", "cerebral aneurysm", and "vasospasm" from 1970 to February, 2012. Articles were also identified through searches of the Cochrane library and searches of the authors' own files. Only papers published in English were reviewed. In conclusion, there is significant theoretical evidence for the potential role of estrogen and progesterone use in altering the pathogenesis of SAH. Nevertheless, this has received mixed reviews in both case controlled studies and cohort analysis within the literature.