[Bone and calcium metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is more common in women than in men. The peak incidence in females coincides with menopause when the production of estrogen drops markedly. Disease activity in patients with RA decreases during pregnancy and increases postpartum. RA is characterized by skeletal manifestations where production of pro-inflammatory mediators, connected to the inflammation in the joint, leads to bone loss. Animal studies have revealed beneficial effects of estrogen and raloxifene on arthritis and a positive effect of hormone replacement therapy has been reported in women with postmenopausal RA. This review will focus on the influence of estrogen in the pathogenesis and progression of RA.