ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis manifests itself clinically as fractures, but by the time the bone density has fallen to levels that predispose to fracture with minimal trauma, the treatment options have become more limited. There have been no satisfactory studies of the effects of screening the whole population for osteoporosis. Estrogen replacement therapy is an appropriate method of treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and whose effects, both beneficial and adverse, have been widely studied. Patients with severe osteoporosis may benefit from the sequential use of one drug to stimulate bone formation followed by another to prevent resorption. The effectiveness of such combinations has not been studied extensively, and must be supervised by a physician who has experience of this method of treatment. The duration of therapy for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis must be tailored to the needs of the given patient. Decisions concerning the duration of treatment may be guided by bone mineral density measurements.