title: Long-term efficacy of cyclical etidronate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: Sixty-two women (mean age 68.7 +/- 0.9 yr) with postmenopausal spinal osteoporosis were treated with cyclical etidronate therapy (400 mg for 2 weeks alternating with 12 weeks of 1 gm elemental calcium and 400 IU Vitamin D3) for a minimum of 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (g/cm2) increased significantly (p < 0.0001) after yr 1 (4.1 +/- 0.5 per cent) and yr 2 compared with yr 1 (2.2 +/- 0.5 per cent). The response rate was 89 per cent after yr 1 and 84 per cent after yr 2. BMD of the hip (30 patients) increased by 1.5 +/- 0.9 per cent after yr 1 and 5.5 +/- 1.1 per cent (p < 0.0001) after yr 2 when compared with baseline. The response rate was 63 per cent after yr 1 and 80 per cent after yr 2. Smaller numbers of patients continued with treatment up to 4 yr with no adverse long-term effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care for the Elderly, Belfast City Hospital.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taggart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D002118:Calcium