title: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment.
abstract: Patients with low bone density or any prior low trauma fracture should be considered for therapeutic intervention. Oestrogen replacement therapy remains the first choice for prevention of bone loss in early postmenopausal women with low bone density. In postmenopausal women with existing fractures, the rank order of treatments is firstly alendronate, secondly raloxifene and thirdly less potent bisphosphonates, such as etidronate, or active vitamin D metabolites, such as calcitriol. For men with osteoporosis, if hypogonadism is present, it should be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. Despite limited data, a bisphosphonate should then be considered in conjunction with calcium. Supplementation with simple vitamin D should be considered in elderly patients who are housebound or live in institutions, as they are at risk of vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bone and Joint Research, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW. sambrook@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Sambrook
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eisman
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D015519:Bone Density; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D002117:Calcitriol; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D002118:Calcium; D019386:Alendronate