Long term efficacy of cyclical etidronate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Sixty-two women (mean age 68.7 ± 0.9 yr) with postmenopausal spinal osteoporosis were treated with cyclical etidronate therapy (400 mg for 2 weeks alternating with 12 weeks of 1 gm elemental calcium and 400 IU Vitamin D3) for a minimum of 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (g/cm²) increased significantly (p<0.0001) after yr 1 (4.1 ± 0.5 per cent) and yr 2 compared with yr 1 (2.2 ± 0.5 per cent). The response rate was 89 per cent after yr 1 and 84 per cent after yr 2.

BMD of the hip (30 patients) increased by 1.5 ± 0.9 per cent after yr 1 and 5.5 ± 1.1 per cent (p<0.0001) after yr 2 when compared with baseline. The response rate was 63 per cent after yr 1 and 80 per cent after yr 2. Smaller numbers of patients continued with treatment up to 4 yr with no adverse long-term effects.