Table 2

Studies on the use of the OCP and postmenopausal hormones and the risk of SLE

Type of study

Comments

Reference

Case-control

Little or no association

[41]

Little association between SLE and current use or duration of use of hormone replacement therapy or OCP

No association with previous use of fertility drugs

Prospective cohort

Slightly increased risk

[84]

OCP use: relative risk = 1.4 (95% CI = 0.9 to 2.1)

Duration of OCP use or time since first use did not increase the risk

Case-control

Increased risk (current oestrogen users with exposure >2 years)

[85]

SLE: odds ratio = 2.8 (95% CI = 0.9 to 9.0)

Discoid lupus: odds ratio = 2.8 (95% CI = 1.0 to 8.3)

When all cases were combined there was a difference between long-term users of oestrogen only (odds ratio = 5.3, 95% CI = 1.5 to 18.6) and those who used oestrogens combined with progestogens (odds ratio = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.8 to 5.0) when compared with nonusers

Prospective cohort

Increased risk

[28]

OCP use: relative risk = 1.5 (95% CI = 1.1 to 2.1)

Postmenopausal hormones: relative risk = 1.9 (95% CI = 1.2 to 3.1)

CI, confidence interval; OCP, oral contraceptive pill; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Oliver and Silman Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009 11:252   doi:10.1186/ar2825