News Release

Hormone replacement therapy may benefit the kidneys

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Society of Nephrology

Highlights

  • The use of hormone replacement therapy may lead to better kidney function in postmenopausal women.
  • Research that uncovered this link will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3-8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

San Diego, CA (November 5, 2015) -- Hormone replacement therapy may help protect kidney health, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3¬-8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

The effect of hormone replacement therapy on kidney function in postmenopausal women is unclear. To investigate, Andrea Kattah, MD, Vesna Garovic, MD (Mayo Clinic), and their colleagues studied 2217 postmenopausal women who participated in the Family Blood Pressure Program, a multi-network study aimed at analyzing the genetics of hypertension. A total of 673 women were taking hormone replacements and 1544 were not.

The researchers found that the prevalence of two markers of kidney disease--microalbuminuria and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate--was significantly lower in women who were taking hormone replacement therapy as compared with women who were not. After adjusting for known risk factors for kidney and cardiovascular disease, the use of hormone replacement therapy remained significantly associated with lower levels of microalbuminuria.

"The risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women are still an area of active debate, and the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the kidney has shown variable results," said Dr. Kattah. "Clarifying the role of hormones on kidney function may have implications for explaining gender differences in chronic kidney disease, counseling women on the use of hormone replacement therapy, and future therapeutic targets for patients with chronic kidney disease," said Dr. Kattah.

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Study: "Hormone Replacement Therapy in Post-Menopausal Women is Associated with Better Kidney Function" (Abstract TH-PO577)

Disclosures: Vesna D. Garovic is the inventor of the technology "Markers for preeclampsia," which has been licensed to a commercial entity; Dr. Garovic and Mayo Clinic have contractual rights to receive royalties from the licensing of this technology. Patent application in process for Early Marker of Proteinuria in Patients Treated with an anti-VEGF Treatment.

ASN Kidney Week 2015, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum for more than 13,000 professionals to discuss the latest findings in kidney health research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. Kidney Week 2015 will take place November 3-8, 2015 in San Diego, CA.

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Founded in 1966, and with nearly 16,000 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.


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