European guidance for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Guidance is provided in a European setting on the assessment and treatment of postmenopausal women with or at risk from osteoporosis.


BACKGROUND
The European Foundation for Osteoporosis and Bone disease (subsequently the International Osteoporosis Foundation) published guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in 1997. This manuscript updates these in a European setting.


METHODS
The following areas are reviewed: the role of bone mineral density measurement for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and assessment of fracture risk; general and pharmacological management of osteoporosis; monitoring of treatment; assessment of fracture risk; case finding strategies; investigation of patients; health economics of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
A platform is provided on which specific guidelines can be developed for national use.
Kanis
J A
JA
WHO Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK. w.j.Pontefract@shef.ac.uk
Burlet
N
N
Cooper
C
C
Delmas
P D
PD
Reginster
J-Y
JY
Borgstrom
F
F
Rizzoli
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000293:injuries; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics