In Search of Lipid Balance in Older Women: New Studies Raise Questions About What Works Best

PREVIEW

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been put forth as an alternative to more conventional modes of therapy for hypercholesterolemia in older women. Observational studies published over the last three decades have touted the beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy in preventing coronary events and death in postmenopausal women. However, more recent randomized trials have cast some doubt on HRT’s usefulness. This article reviews the research on HRT and coronary artery disease and discusses other approaches to lipid management.