BoneKEy-Osteovision | News
Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with parathyroid hormone decreases the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures, and increases total-body bone mineral density
DOI:10.1138/2001028
A study published in the May 10 issue of New England Journal of Medicine indicates that daily injection of parathyroid hormone to postmenopausal women with prior vertebral fracture decreases the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures and also increases vertebral, femoral, and total-body bone mineral density. This study involves 1637 postmenopausal women with prior vertebral fracture for a medium duration of 21 months, they were randomly assigned to receive 20 or 40 micrograms of parathyroid hormone (1-34) or placebo via subcutaneous injections. Vertebral fractures occurred in 14 percent of the placebo group as compared to 5 percent (20 micrograms) and 4 percent (40 microgram) in women who received PTH. Risk of nonvertebral fractures also decreased with parathyroid hormone treatment while total-body bone mineral increased by 2 to 4 percent. The National Osteoporosis Foundation issues a statement calling this research finding "very exciting for the future of treatment of osteoporosis" but cautions patients that "while the studies on PTH are promising, PTH is not yet available for treatment of osteoporosis and is still considered experimental".
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