Prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2007 Mar;5(1):14-21. doi: 10.1007/BF02938618.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids continue to be used for many inflammatory diseases, and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) remains the most common secondary form of metabolic bone disease. Recent meta-analyses suggest that both active and native vitamin D can help maintain lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), particularly in patients receiving lower-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Recent randomized, controlled clinical trials have shown that oral bisphosphonates are superior to vitamin D in maintaining BMD and should be continued for as long as a person receives glucocorticoid treatment. Similar to the oral bisphosphonates, intravenous ibandronate has been shown to preserve BMD and also to significantly reduce vertebral fracture risk. Increasing evidence supports a role for parathyroid hormone to prevent or treat GIOP as well. Despite effective therapies, many at-risk patients fail to receive treatment for GIOP, and even among those who initiate treatment, half discontinue within 1 to 2 years. New approaches to evidence implementation are being tested to improve the quality of osteoporosis care and decrease fracture risk among long-term glucocorticoid users.

MeSH terms

  • Alendronate / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / therapeutic use
  • Calcium / therapeutic use
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use
  • Etidronic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Ibandronic Acid
  • Male
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / drug therapy*
  • Osteoporosis / prevention & control
  • Parathyroid Hormone / therapeutic use
  • Patient Compliance
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Quality of Health Care / economics
  • Quality of Health Care / standards
  • Rheumatic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin K / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Vitamin K
  • Vitamin D
  • Etidronic Acid
  • Calcium
  • Ibandronic Acid
  • Alendronate