WHI Results for Estrogen-Alone Therapy

In the randomized, placebo-controlled Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, postmenopausal women without coronary heart disease (CHD) showed increased risk for CHD and breast cancer with . . .

In the randomized, placebo-controlled Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, postmenopausal women without coronary heart disease (CHD) showed increased risk for CHD and breast cancer with long-term combination hormone replacement therapy (estrogen plus progestin); see Journal Watch Cardiology Aug 23 2002. Now, we have findings from WHI's estrogen-only arm.

The participants -- 10,739 postmenopausal women (age range, 50-79) who had undergone hysterectomies -- were randomized to receive 0.625 mg/day of conjugated equine estrogen or placebo. The trial was terminated early in 2004 because estrogen recipients showed no advantage over placebo recipients in CHD incidence (the primary outcome) and a significant disadvantage in risk for stroke.

For the…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD