Aromatase Inhibitors and Joint Symptoms: Who Is at Risk?

Risk factors for incident arthralgias included use of an AI, prior hormone therapy or chemotherapy, and hormone-receptor–positive tumors.

Estrogen deficiency is associated with arthralgias, which often improve during use of hormone therapy. In the large, randomized, international Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial (JW Womens Health Jan 12 2005 and JW Womens Health Feb 7 2008), women with early breast cancer who received the aromatase inhibitor (AI) anastrozole were more likely to report joint symptoms than were those who received tamoxifen (36.5% vs. 30.9%; P<0.0001); however, some of these women had histories of arthralgias before study entry. In this analysis, women randomized to anastrozole (2698) or to tamoxifen (2735) who did not report joint symptoms at baseline were followed for incident arthralgias.

At a median follow-up of 100 months, 35.2% of wo…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Aromatase Inhibitors and Joint Symptoms: Who Is at Risk?

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Reviewing Author