Medicus, Vol. 14 No. 2_Gerijatrija, 2005.
Review article
Postmenopausal Osteoporosis – Prevention and Treatment
Mirko Koršić
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a disease of increased skeletal
fragility accompanied by low mineral density (DXA measurement
– T score below -2.5) and microarchitectural deterioration.
Fractures result from qualitative and quantitative deterioration
in the trabecular and cortical skeleton. Osteoporosis is a major
clinical problem of western civilisation. Spinal and wrist fractures
increase morbidity. However, its most serious consequence is hip
fracture, which is associated with high mortality. Osteoporosis is
also an important socioeconomic disease in Croatia. The main
objective of osteoporosis management is to prevent fractures.
Osteoporosis therapy can reduce the risk of fractures by
50%. There are several nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic
options for the prevention and treatment of the disease. On the
basis of their mechanism of action, osteoporosis drugs can be
classifi ed into two main groups. Antiresorptive agents that inhibit
osteoclasts activity are most commonly used. Osteoanabolic
agents stimulate bone formation. These drugs have substantially
improved the management of osteoporosis. As it is still not clear
whether the concomitant administration of osteoporosis drugs
in different regimens enhances the treatment effi ciency, the
combination of continuous and sequential treatment gains
considerable interest in clinical practice.
Keywords
postmenopausal osteoporosis; prevention; treatment; nonpharmacologic options; pharmacotherapy
Hrčak ID:
18871
URI
Publication date:
17.10.2005.
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