Sex hormones play an active role in inflammatory responses, with androgens being anti-inflammatory, whereas estrogens have both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, low levels of androgens and high levels of estrone are found in the synovial fluid. Aromatase is the key enzyme for the conversion of androgens into estrogens. Proinflammatory cytokines stimulat...

T HE PREDOMINANT emphasis in the study of hormones in post-menopausal women has been accorded to estrogens and progestins, with lesser attention being given to androgens and the issue of androgen replacement. This is perhaps because androgens are traditionally thought of as male hormones, and the impact of excessive androgen activity in women, for example as in hirsutism, receives more attentio...