Association between hormone therapy and nerve conduction study parameters in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective We aimed to analyze the association between hormone therapy (HT) and nerve conduction parameters.

Methods This retrospective study consisted of 46 postmenopausal women not receiving HT, and 18 postmenopausal women who received HT. Eligible patients were identified from the hospital's database and the nerve conduction study was performed on the upper or lower limb without pain or other symptoms.

Results No significant difference was demonstrated in the unadjusted nerve conduction parameters according to HT. After adjusting for age and body mass index, the latency of the posterior tibial motor nerve in postmenopausal women receiving HT was significantly shorter than that in women not receiving HT. Moreover, the velocity of the median motor nerve tended to be faster in postmenopausal women receiving HT than those not receiving HT, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion These findings imply that HT may affect the nerve conduction parameters in postmenopausal women.

Key words:

• Hormone Therapy
• Nerve Conduction Study
• Menopause

Acknowledgement

We thank Dong-Hoon Oh, MD for assistance during the analysis of the nerve conduction study.

Conflict of interest  The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Source of funding  This study was supported by a grant (01-PJ10-PG6-01GN13-0002) from the Korea Health 21 R & D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.