Quantitative ultrasound at the phalanges in monitoring alendronate therapy.
This study evaluated the efficacy of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the phalanges in monitoring alendronate treatment. Seventy-nine postmenopausal women were enrolled: 46 subjects entered therapy with alendronate, the remaining 33 did not follow any therapeutic regimen. All subjects underwent phalangeal ultrasound measurement before starting treatment and after 12 mo. Two QUS parameters were measured: AD-SoS (Amplitude Dependent Speed of Sound) in m/s, and BTT (Bone Transmission Time) in micros. Mean age of subjects at the beginning of the study was 58.7 +/- 6.5 y, mean BMI was 26.6 +/- 4.4 kg/m(2), mean time since menopause was 6.7 +/- 5.0 y; no significant differences could be observed between the groups (p > 0.05). At 12-mo follow-up a significant increase of both QUS parameters was observed: +18.8 +/- 24.4 m/s for AD-SoS, p < 0.0001; +0.05 +/- 0.08 micros for BTT, p < 0.001. In the nontreated group AD-SoS was stable (+1.0 +/- 33.7 m/s), as well as BTT (-0.07 +/- 0.25 micros), p = n.s. for both. In the treated group the percentage of responders was 65.2% for AD-SoS and 50.0% for BTT. The percentage of non responders was 13% for AD-SoS and 15.2% for BTT. The results confirm that the effect of alendronate treatment may be suggested by QUS at the phalanges after 12 mo of treatment.
Guido
Nicolosi Mario
NM
Divisione Ospedaliera B, Ostetricia e Ginecologia Ospedale S. Anna, Torino, Italy.
Elia
Cristina
C
Liuzzo
Chantal Catherine
CC
Mario
Campogrande
C
de Terlizzi
Francesca
F
Ruggiero
Grio
G
D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002138:Calibration; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate