Summary
To develop an improved treatment schedule for osteoporosis, a study was undertaken in 100 postmenopausal women using a modified ADFR 90-day cyclical regimen with etidronate. After one year of treatment, the etidronate-treated group showed a significant increase in bone density of the spine, which continued over the following 2 years of treatment and remained stable during the fourth year. In contrast, in the non-etidronate group, bone density decreased significantly after four years. In addition, the fracture rate was significantly lower in the etidronate group than in the non-etidronate group. Side effects were minimal in both groups and no serious adverse reactions were reported. In conclusion, it appears that a cyclical regimen using 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, etidronate and calcium increases bone mass and reduces fractures with no significant side effects, thus making a useful contribution in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
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Lyritis, G.P., Tsakalakos, N., Paspati, I. et al. The effect of a modified etidronate cyclical regimen on postmenopausal osteoporosis: A four-year study. Clin Rheumatol 16, 354–360 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02242451
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02242451