title: The effect of tibolone on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis--8 years follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This longitudinal observational study evaluated the effect of 8 years of uninterrupted treatment of tibolone on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with significant osteopenia or osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 66 postmenopausal women (29 with moderate or severe osteopenia and 37 with osteoporosis) who took tibolone (2.5 mg nocte) uninterruptedly for over 8 years and who attended for annual BMD assessments. Their mean age was 66.7 (0.86) years (range 50-86 years). BMD measurements at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were performed annually by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 8 years of treatment with tibolone there was a significant increase in BMD at the spine (P < 0.001) and at the hip (P < 0.001). Women who did not have previous oestrogen therapy had significantly greater response to tibolone than those who had previous treatment with conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This long-term observational study provides evidence of the effectiveness of tibolone in postmenopausal women with moderate/severe osteopenia and osteoporosis in terms of a significant increase in BMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK. g.prelevic@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gordana M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Prelevic
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markou
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartram
authors.forename: Zarko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Puzigaca
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D009652:Norpregnenes; C027385:tibolone