title: Effect of cyclical therapy with phosphorus and etidronate on axial bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.
abstract: Forty seven women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and at least one but no more than four vertebral compression fractures received sequential and cyclical therapy with phosphorus and etidronate (p/etid). During the same 2-year period of observation, three other groups of patients received either sodium fluoride (n = 12), estrogen replacement therapy (n = 12), or vitamin D and calcium (Ca++) alone (n = 15). Axial bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by means of dual-photon absorptiometry. Lateral thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs were taken to assess fractures. Bone mineral density increased from baseline during p/etid therapy: Mean 15.7 +/- 1.6% (SD) (P less than 0.001). During the same time, the patients in the sodium fluoride group showed a comparable increase in their BMD from baseline: mean 15.7 +/- 1.1% (P less than 0.001). During the first year of therapy, patients in the estrogen replacement group had an increase in their BMD from baseline: mean: 4.6% +/- 1.1% (P less than 0.05). No change in BMD was seen in the control group that received vitamin D and Ca++ alone. No patient who received p/etid, sodium fluoride, or estrogen replacement therapy had any new vertebral compression fractures or height loss, whereas in the control group that received vitamin D and Ca++ alone 6 out of 15 had height loss and at least one new vertebral fracture (P less than 0.01). p/etid therapy increases BMD in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis comparable to sodium fluoride but without side effects or toxicity and stabilizes vertebral compression fractures.
authors.affiliation: Western Nephrology and Metabolic Bone Disease Group, P.C. Lakewood, Colorado.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yanover
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Anger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D012968:Etidronic Acid