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The structural
network inside bones can deteriorate in just one year in early
postmenopausal women, according to U.S. researchers.
This network,
called the trabecular architecture, was found to deteriorate
even though study participants showed only a modest loss of
bone mineral density, according to the findings presented
at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in San
Francisco.
In the
same study, the bisphosphonate drug Actonel® was shown
to protect the trabecular microarchitecture in early postmenopausal
women and to increase bone mineral density. Bisphosphonates
are drugs that inhibit bone loss, cause an increase in bone
mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures.
The study
included women within six months to five years after menopause
who received daily treatment with Actonel or a placebo for
one year. The participants were not given calcium supplements
during the course of the study.
Analysis
of hip bone biopsy samples showed that after one year, the
12 women taking the placebo had already registered significant
deterioration in the microarchitecture of trabecular bone,
despite only a modest loss in lumbar spine bone mineral density.
Over the
same time period, trabecular bone microarchitecture was maintained
in the 14 women who received Actonel and these women showed
a gain in lumbar spine bone mineral density.
"Osteoporosis
has been defined as a skeletal disease characterized by a
combination of low bone mineral density and bone microarchitectural
alterations that are responsible for increased skeletal fragility,"
said Dr. Robert Lindsay, Chief of Internal Medicine at Helen
Hayes Hospital.
"While
bone mineral density plays an important role in the diagnosis
of osteoporosis, not all of the effects of bisphosphonates
(drugs that inhibit bone loss) can be explained by increases
in bone mineral density. Protection of bone microarchitecture
may plan an important role in bone health," Lindsay said.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of June 23, 2002
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