title: Influence of treatment with alendronate on the speed of sound, an ultrasound parameter, of the calcaneus in postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis: a clinical practice-based observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The influence of alendronate (ALN) treatment on the quantitative ultrasound parameters of the calcaneus remains to be established in Japanese patients. The aim of the present clinical practice-based observational study was to examine the influence of ALN treatment for 1 year on the speed of sound (SOS) of the calcaneus and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis who had received treatment with ALN for more than 1 year were enrolled in the study. The SOS and bone turnover markers were monitored over 1 year of ALN treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The urinary levels of cross-linked N-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly from the baseline values (-44.9% at 3 months and -22.2% at 12 months, respectively). The SOS increased modestly, but significantly, from the baseline value (0.6% at both 6 and 12 months). The percentage decrease in the urinary levels of cross-linked N-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen at 3 months was significantly correlated with the percentage increase in the SOS only at 6 months (correlation coefficient, 0.299).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirmed that ALN treatment suppressed bone turnover, producing a clinically significant increase in the SOS of the calcaneus in postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis.
authors: Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Iwamoto
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Takada
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Sato
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Matsumoto