Oestrogens, joint disease, and cartilage

Article Abstract:

Diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and joint diseases tend occur with different frequencies among men and women, and these differences in expression are usually attributed to the effects of estrogen. Systemic lupus erythematosus is one joint disease that predominates in women. Studies indicate that estrogen supports the lupus disease process by increasing the number and activity of autoantibodies, which are antibodies that the body inappropriately manufactures and which recognize and attack the body's own tissues. In contrast, although rheumatoid arthritis is also more common in women, estrogen levels elevated by pregnancy or by use of estrogen as medication appear to protect against disease effects. In this disease, the portion of the immune system mediated by T lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) is linked to the disease process and is suppressed by estrogen, while in lupus, the B lymphocyte portion of the immune system is involved and is stimulated by estrogens. Other studies suggest that estrogens can act directly on joint cartilage and thus may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, and other estrogenic effects on blood cells which mediate inflammation may further contribute to the disease. Research to further establish the specific effects of estrogen on these disease processes should improve the understanding of the specific processes underlying joint diseases. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Arthritis, Estrogen, Estrogens, Cartilage, editorial

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Effects of cyclical etidronate combined with calcitriol versus cyclical etidronate alone on spine and femoral neck bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic women

Article Abstract:

Cyclical treatment with etidronate plus calcitriol may be superior to etidronate alone in increasing bone mineral density of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Etidronate is a biphosphonate medication that inhibits bone resorption, a physiologic process that contributes to bone thinning in osteoporosis. Researchers treated 47 women with etidronate and calcitriol, or etidronate alone. Bone density increased 5% in the spines of women taking both drugs, compared to 3% in women taking etidronate alone. The two-drug therapy improved the density of hip bones, which fell with etidronate alone.

Evaluation, Bones, Drug therapy, Bone density, Calcitriol, Etidronate disodium, Etidronate

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The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on bone mineral density: a study of female twins

Article Abstract:

The effect of alcohol on bone metabolism and fracture risk in women is examined.

United Kingdom, Diagnosis, Medical examination, Postmenopausal women, Alcohol use

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