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When the estrogen-progestin arm of the WHI's hormone therapy trial was stopped in 2002 (Journal Watch Women's Health Aug 7 2002), the estrogen-only arm continued. In this arm, 10,739 women with prior hysterectomy were randomized to receive conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day) or placebo. Now, after approximately 6.8 years of follow-up, the NIH has stopped the intervention phase of the estrogen-only arm, about 1 year earlier than planned.
The study was stopped because estrogen recipients showed an increased risk for stroke and no evidence of heart disease protection. Hazard ratios for clinical outcomes among estrogen recipients were as follows: coronary heart disease, 0.91; stroke, 1.39; pulmonary embolism, 1.34; deep vein thrombosis, 1.…