Abstract
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease affecting millions of people worldwide, particularly in elderly or in post-menopausal women. The pathogenesis is useful to understand the possible mechanism of action of anti-osteoporotic drugs. Early diagnosis, possible with several laboratory and instrumental tests, allows a major accuracy in the choice of anti-osteoporosis drugs. Treatment of osteoporosis is strictly related to severity of pathology and consists on prevention of fragility fractures with a correct lifestyle and adequate nutritional supplements, and use of pharmacological therapy, started in patients with osteopenia and history of fragility fracture of the hip or spine. The purpose of this review is to focus on main current pharmacological products to treat osteoporotic patients.
Highlights
Osteoporosis, from the Greek term “porous bone,” is the most common bone disease, affecting millions of people worldwide
According to the World Health Organization, it is defined as a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations or more below that of the mean peak BMD of young adults when measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (World Health Organization, 2007)
Because of the roles estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β play in osteoclast apoptosis, the use of estrogen replacement therapy or estrogenprogestin replacement therapy with tibolone is effective for prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Summary
Osteoporosis, from the Greek term “porous bone,” is the most common bone disease, affecting millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, it is defined as a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations or more below that of the mean peak BMD of young adults when measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (World Health Organization, 2007) It is characterized by microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture, which results in high medical expenditures and substantial morbidity with a decrease in quality of life (Ray et al, 1997). Previous and incident fractures account for 1,180,000 quality-adjusted life years lost during 2010 These costs are expected to increase by 25% in 2025 (Hernlund et al, 2013). Due to the rapid increase in disease burden and cost of osteoporosis worldwide, a reasonable goal of treatment is to focus on reducing fractures
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