Medical College of Wisconsin
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A review of clinical trials of therapies for osteoporosis using fracture as an end point. J Clin Densitom 1999;2(4):435-52

Date

02/25/2000

Pubmed ID

10677797

DOI

10.1016/s1094-6950(06)60409-5

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0033254196 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   32 Citations

Abstract

As the population ages, fragility fractures grow in importance as a public health problem. The principal goal of osteoporosis therapy is primary and secondary fracture prevention. A growing choice of therapies is now available for the treatment of osteoporosis. In this article, we review their efficacy using fracture prevention as an end point. The considerable heterogeneity among studies with regard to patient age, past fracture history, fracture site, and analytical methods precludes the possibility of performing a meaningful meta-analysis. Fracture outcomes have been reported in clinical trials with calcium supplementation, vitamin D supplementation, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), calcitonin, etidronate, alendronate, sodium fluoride (NaF), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and raloxifene. Compelling evidence for fracture prevention has been provided for calcium and vitamin D supplementation and alendronate treatment. Evidence of fracture prevention exists for ERT, raloxifene, calcitonin, etidronate, and PTH. Data on NaF are inconsistent. Across agents, there is a trend toward greater efficacy for patients at greatest risk of fracture.

Author List

Blank RD, Bockman RS

Author

Robert D. Blank MD, PhD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Calcitonin
Diphosphonates
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Female
Fractures, Bone
Humans
Male
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
Parathyroid Hormone
Sodium Fluoride
Vitamin D