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Menopause and Rheumatic Disease
Mitali Talsania1, Robert Hal Scofield2
1Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Abstract:
Menopause occurs naturally in women at about 50 years of age. There is a wealth of data concerning the relationship of menopause to systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis; there are limited data concerning other rheumatic diseases. Age at menopause may affect the risk and course of rheumatic diseases. Osteoporosis, an integral part of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, is made worse by menopause. Hormone replacement therapy has been studied; its effects vary depending on the disease and even different manifestations within the same disease. Cyclophosphamide can induce early menopause, but there is underlying decreased ovarian reserve in rheumatic diseases.