Immediate change in HRT regimen not necessary. (Expert Opinion).

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy should be reassured that they don't need to immediately stop treatment in light of the results of the Women's Health Initiative, according to Dr. Charles Hammond.

"I don't want to see patients stampeding to cessation of treatments or to alternative treatments, which we know even less about, until there's been a national debate on what the study really means," Dr. Hammond, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in an interview at the annual Southern Obstetric and Gynecologic Seminar.

He stressed that this is his personal opinion and not necessarily that of the college. Dr. Hammond is an educational consultant to and/or a member of the speaker's panel for Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Berlex Laboratories, and Solvay Pharmaceuticals.

As president of ACOG, Dr. Hammond called an expert panel to gather 2 months ago to discuss the issue of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and said that the panel will be ready to make a statement soon. But it will be several more months before the medical community as a whole will be able to fully assess the study.

"It is too soon for us to give opinions and advice while we are facing this tidal wave of negativism from both the press and the public," he said.

The prospective, randomized study was halted 3 years early when it became clear that women on combination HRT were at significantly increased risk for stroke, MI, invasive breast cancer, and total cardiovascular disease after about 5 years of use. The study also found significant decreases in colorectal cancer and fracture risk.

"My advice to patients is there's no urgency to make a change. Let's have a debate ...