title: Evaluation and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
abstract: Osteoporosis is a prevalent condition among elderly women and is associated with an increased risk for fractures. With the burgeoning size of the elderly population, a practitioner is likely to face many questions regarding the evaluation and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This review discusses and compares available therapies. All women should have adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Women diagnosed as having osteoporosis should be evaluated for secondary causes of osteoporosis and risk factors for falls. For women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, therapy with hormone replacement, bisphosphonates (alendronate sodium or risedronate sodium), raloxifene hydrochloride, or calcitonin should be considered. The results of ongoing studies will help refine the strategies used for management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Section, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75390-8889, USA. chia-ying.wang@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruder
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D015519:Bone Density; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D004967:Estrogens; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D002118:Calcium