The Response of Vertebral Bone Mineral Density during the Treatment of Osteoporosis with Sodium Fluoride

Abstract

Forty-eight female patients with postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated with sodium fluoride and calcium supplements; their response to treatment was documented by sequential measurements of vertebral and forearm bone mineral density (BMD). During treatment 25 patients developed significant side-effects due to fluoride, and ultimately, 18 patients (37%) were intolerant of the drug after 17.3 % 7.3 (%SD) months. The remaining patients were followed for 29.4 % 9.6 months. By linear regression analysis, 69% of patients had a positive slope of vertebral BMD vs. time of greater than 0.0017 g/cm2·month (range, 0.0017–0.01) and were classified as treatment responders. The increment in vertebral BMD above the baseline value over time was described by the relationship ΔBMD (g/cm2·month) = 0.042 + 0.0053 × months, equivalent to a rate of 8.4%/yr. Because the rates of increasing BMD were very variable, it was difficult to determine in individual patients the point at which a positiv...