title: 8th Pieter van Keep Memorial Lecture. Estrogen and bone: have we completed a full circle?
abstract: Estrogen therapy was considered first-line therapy for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in 1984. Evidence from a large, randomized clinical trial in 2002 proved the efficacy of estrogen in the prevention of all types of osteoporosis-related fractures. Ironically, estrogen was relegated to second-line therapy, based on perceived safety concerns. The historical background to these decisions is presented. It is argued that this decision is not a reasonable reflection of the available evidence, especially in comparison to other available drugs.
authors.affiliation: Past President, International Menopause Society, Mediclinic Panorama and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: de Villiers
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D004967:Estrogens / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004967:Estrogens
keywords: ANTI-FRACTURE EFFICACY; BONE; ESTROGEN; OSTEOPENIA; OSTEOPOROSIS