A 60-Year-Old Woman Trying to Discontinue Hormone Replacement Therapy, 2 Years Later

摘要

In a Clinical Crossroads article published April 24, 2002, Deborah Grady, MD, MPH, discussed the case of a 60-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer and a personal history of surgical menopause at age 40 who had experienced severe hot flashes while trying to discontinue hormone therapy.In her discussion, which was published after the Women's Health Initiative announcement regarding concerning trends in the study but prior to publication of the study, Dr Grady discussed growing concerns about the potentially increased risk of breast cancer risk and coronary events in users of hormone therapy based on the Heart and Estrogen/ProgestinReplacement Study, other published randomized trials, and early reports from the Women's Health Initiative. She suggested that Mrs W try again to taper her estrogen, but over an extended period of time. Dr Grady also suggested that Mrs W consider trying a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor to help with symptoms. However, she noted that estrogen remains the most effective therapy for relief of vasomotor symptoms of menopause and suggested that if Mrs W were unable to taper or discontinue the estrogen, that Mrs W could continue the estrogen, but for symptom relief rather than long-term prevention of disease.