To examine the possible beneficial effect of androgens in postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.
107 women participated in a double blind placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 50 mg testosterone propionate intramuscularly every two weeks for one year.
An improvement in ESR, Dutch health assessment questionnaire, and pain was noted. In addition, 21% of patients treated with testosterone fulfilled the ACR improvement criteria after one year, versus only 4% of the placebo group. The treatment was well tolerated.
Testosterone may improve the general wellbeing of postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.