title: [Effects of long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density (BMD), and the incidence of bone pain in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 141 postmenopausal women were selected from the medical staff of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Of them, 63 women treated with low-dose sex hormone for over 5 (5-32) years were divided into hormone replacement therapy (HRT) group, and 78 never receiving HRT were divided into control group. The BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at lumbar spine, Ward's triangle, femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip, and the incidence of bone pain was inquired.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BMD in the HRT group was 9.1% higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of bone pain was significantly lower in the HRT group (71.4%) than that in the control group (89.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term and low-dose hormone replacement therapy can reduce bone loss and the incidence of bone pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Mei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qin-Sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone