title: Effectiveness of teriparatide treatment on back pain-related functional limitations in individuals affected by severe osteoporosis: a prospective pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertebral fractures have been associated with back pain, functional limitations and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Teriparatide is the first effective anabolic agent that demonstrated to significantly reduce the risk of vertebral fracture by 65%, as compared to placebo. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of teriparatide treatment on back pain-related functional limitations and to investigate on patients HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational pilot study osteoporotic patients, who were prescribed teriparatide therapy and a supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, were asked to answer to two self-administered questionnaires: the Spine Pain Index (SPI) and the SF-12 (at the recruitment, after 6, 12, and 18 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two women were evaluated (mean age of 70.58 yrs). The mean SPI score passed from 50.01 at baseline to 32.20 at 18 months. The mean SF-12 PCS score passed from 30.00 at baseline to 36.79 at 18 months, while the mean SF-12 MCS score was already within the normality range at baseline, constantly improving during the 18 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, 18 months of treatment with teriparatide has to be considered an effective therapeutic option for women with severe osteoporosis and vertebral fractures, in a real-life clinical setting, to improve both back pain related disability and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary of Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iolascon
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Nazzarena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malavolta
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Gioconda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Resmini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Migliaccio
keywords: back-pain; functional limitation; health-related quality of life; osteoporosis; teriparatide