title: Osteoporosis--from hormonal replacement therapy to bisphosphonates and beyond: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the old, current, and emerging agents in pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published original research work and reviews from 1993 to 31 December 2006 were searched in English on subjects related to epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Only articles that emphasise on management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online and manual library searches done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data added up and summarised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoporosis is a serious public health issue. The past 10 years has seen great advances in our understanding of its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment, and further advances are rapidly being made. Bisphosphonates represent the biggest advance in the treatment of osteoporosis, and will probably remain the mainstay of therapy. At the same time other diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, including biological agents, are likely to become more widespread. Combination therapy is generally not recommended due to paucity of data concerning antifracture effectiveness, and, there is currently no definitive answer on the length of treatment with antiresoptive agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Oyoo
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kariuki
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate