Stimulation of fracture-healing with systemic intermittent parathyroid hormone treatment

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008 Feb:90 Suppl 1:120-7. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.G.01443.

Abstract

Over the past several years, there has been an increasing interest in the biology of bone repair and potential technologies for enhancing fracture-healing. Part of this interest is derived from the growing age of the population and the recognition that increased age carries an increased risk of complications after fracture. Although use of locally implanted or injected growth factors has received the most attention, systemic treatments for the enhancement of bone repair, especially for situations in which bone repair may be diminished or delayed, are now under investigation. Since the approval of parathyroid hormone (PTH) as an anabolic treatment for osteoporosis, there has been an increasing interest in other potential clinical uses for this compound in musculoskeletal conditions. It is now widely recognized that PTH administration is an effective therapy to increase bone mineral density and prevent fractures in patients with osteoporosis. More recently, a growing body of evidence has supported the conclusion that PTH will also be an effective anabolic therapy for the enhancement of bone repair after fracture. This review focuses on the recent research demonstrating the potential of PTH in the management of bone repair in a number of fracture models and also highlights the ongoing studies into the mechanisms of PTH actions on endochondral bone repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fracture Healing / drug effects*
  • Fracture Healing / physiology
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / pharmacology
  • Parathyroid Hormone / administration & dosage*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Parathyroid Hormone