Effect of estrogen replacement therapy on patella cartilage in healthy XXXX .

@entity1 @entity571 @entity2931 @entity18437 @entity4518
OBJECTIVES: @entity4518 ( @entity571 ) is a significant cause of morbidity. Epidemiological data suggests that the use of @entity2931 replacement therapy ( @entity18437 ) may protect against tibiofemoral knee @entity571 . However, the effect on patellofemoral @entity571 is unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that long term @entity18437 (greater than 5 years) is associated with increased patella cartilage in post menopausal @entity1 . METHODS: We studied 81 @entity1 (42 current users (> 5 yrs) of @entity2931 replacement therapy and 39 never users). Articular cartilage volumes were determined by post-processing images acquired in the sagittal plane using a T1-weighted fat suppressed magnetic resonance sequence on an independent workstation. RESULTS: There was no difference in the amount of patella cartilage in @entity1 on @entity18437 compared to @entity1 on no @entity18437 . After adjusting for patella bone size, years since menopause, body mass index, age of menopause and smoking, @entity18437 users had 2.07 +/- 0.76 ml of patella cartilage compared to 1.93 +/- 0.89 ml in non-users (P = 0.24 for difference). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that use of @entity18437 for more than 5 years does not have a significant effect on patella cartilage, in contrast to the previously described effect on tibial cartilage. The reasons for this are unknown, but may indicate that there are differences in the mechanisms for development of knee @entity571 at these sites.
