title: Osteoporosis: Treat-to-Target.
abstract: Treat-to-target (goal-directed therapy) has been proposed as a strategy to assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate initial treatment for osteoporosis and guiding subsequent decisions to continue, change, or stop treatment. This is a review of the current medical evidence regarding treatment targets and potential clinical applications in managing patients with osteoporosis.
  
  
  
  Analyses of randomized placebo-controlled trials of approved agents to treat osteoporosis have generally shown that larger increases in bone mineral density are associated with greater reduction in fracture risk. Achievement of T-scores > -2.5 to -2.0 with treatment appears to provide little additional fracture protection. The paradigm of treat-to-target is aimed at enhancing and individualizing the care of patients with osteoporosis. Based on the best available data, the most promising target is T-score > -2.5. More data are needed to validate the clinical utility of treat-to-target for osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, 300 Oak St. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA. mlewiecki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E Michael
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lewiecki
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents
keywords: Goal; Goal-directed; Osteoporosis; Target; Treatment