Conclusions

Abstract

A great number of drugs with diversified mechanisms of action on bone metabolism are currently available for patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Strontium ranelate is until now the single molecule that both inhibits bone resorption and stimulates osteoformation. In large randomized controlled studies, it has been proved effective in decreasing the rate of incident fractures. This has been demonstrated in osteopenic women for vertebral fractures, in osteoporotic women for both vertebral and non-vertebral fractures, including hip fractures, irrespective of prevalent fractures or not, and even after 80 years old. Long-term observance is facilitated by the safety and convenience for use and by therapy-induced quality of life benefits. Treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis is a matter of decades. In this very-long term perspective, therapeutic compliance should become the first priority in designing the future strategies. Long term compliance will be improved with strontium ranelate tolerability and quality of life benefits.