title: Effects of combined treatment with etidronate, nandrolone-decanoate and calcium on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
abstract: The objective of this retrospective study was to see whether the effect on bone mineral density (BMD) and response to the intermittent cyclic treatment with etidronate (E) + nandrolone-decanoate (ND + calcium (Ca) (group A--combined regimen--400 mg E daily for 2 weeks, followed by 500 mg Ca daily for the next 10 weeks + 50 mg ND once a month i.m., for 3 months in every other E cycle) was of greater benefit than cyclic E + Ca treatment (group B--standard regimen--E + Ca given in the same manner as in group A) or Ca treatment alone (group C--calcium regimen--500 mg Ca daily, continuously for 1 year). Group A comprised 30, group B 27 and group C 26 postmenopausal women with spinal BMD > or = 1 standard deviation below young adult mean (T score < or = -1) without vertebral fractures. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and femoral neck before (baseline values) and after one year treatment period. A similar, statistically significant increase in BMD was noted at lumbar spine in groups A and B (3.6% and 3.8%, respectively) and at femoral neck in groups A and B (1.7% and 2.5%, respectively). In group C, the bone loss at lumbar spine was prevented but no significant increase was recorded (0.3%) and at femoral neck an insignificant decrease in BMD was recorded (-0.3%). Percentages of change from baseline were significantly higher in groups A and B in respect to those in group C but there were no significant differences between groups A and B either at lumbar spine or at femoral neck. In about 30% of women from groups A and B, spinal BMD increased by more than 4.2% ("real" responders to the given therapy). A femoral BMD increase of more than 5.6% was recorded in about 13% of women from groups A and B. In group C, no such increase was recorded. In conclusion, combined intermittent cyclical regimen of E + ND + Ca has not proven to be superior to the intermittent cyclic regimen of E + Ca.
authors.affiliation: Center for Osteoporosis, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolanca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korsić
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dekanić
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvijetić
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D002118:Calcium