[Clinical trials of alendronate overseas].
Administration of alendronate increased BMD in postmenopausal women, preventing new fractures in patients with previous fractures. It could reduce the occurrence of fracture in women with BMD T-values less than - 2.0. However, alendronate did not reduce the fracture risk in those with T-values more than - 2.0. These global data clearly indicate the effect of alendronate to prevent the fracture in high-risk patients with bone fragility. But, its inefficiency in low-risk cases was not marked, regardless with increases in BMD. Alendronate seems to recover the bone fragility that is evident before the treatment, but it may not strengthen the normal bone without fragility.
Nakamura
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Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.