2014 update of recommendations on the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

ObjectivesTo update the recommendations on the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis issued in 2003 by the French National Authority for Health (HAS). This update was performed under the aegis of the Bone Section of the French Society for Rheumatology (SFR) and Osteoporosis Research and Information Group (GRIO), in collaboration with four French learned societies (primary-care, gastroenterology, internal medicine, and nephrology).MethodsA task force composed of members of the medical specialties involved in managing patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis conducted a systematic literature review according to the method developed by the HAS then used the results to develop updated recommendations.ResultsThese recommendations are intended for all physicians involved in the management of patients who are scheduled to start, or are taking, long-term glucocorticoid therapy (≥ 3 months) in any dose and for any reason. In postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years of age, treatment is warranted in the presence of any of the following risk factors for fracture: history of bone frailty fracture after 50 years of age, bone mineral density T-score ≤ −2.5 at one or more sites, age ≥ 70 years, and dosage ≥ 7.5 mg/d prednisone-equivalent for longer than 3 months. Bisphosphonates can be used in all these situations; teriparatide can be given as first-line therapy in patients at high fracture risk but is reimbursed by the French statutory health insurance system only in patients having two or more prevalent vertebral fractures. The fracture risk is lower in nonmenopausal women and in men younger than 50 years of age, in whom treatment decisions should rest on a case-by-case evaluation.ConclusionThese recommendations are intended to clarify the pharmacological management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.     

Evaluation of single-dose applied teriparatide effect on bone healing with histomorphometric and micro-ct analysis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a single dose of locally administered teriparatide (TP) on healing critical-sized defects in rat mandibles through histomorphometric and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analyses.In this study, 48 Sprague–Dawley rats were used. The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups as follows: Group 1 had empty defects, Group 2 received autografts, Group 3 received allografts, and Group 4 received allografts combined with 40 μg of TP. Eight weeks after the surgical procedure, all rats were sacrificed, and all specimens were evaluated using micro-CT and histomorphometric analyses.The results of the histomorphometric analysis showed that Group 4 had the most new bone area (0.85 mm² ± 0.13 mm²) (p = 0.002) and the highest number of osteoblasts (86.61 ± 4.86) (p = 0.001). In addition, the results of the micro-CT analysis showed that Group 4 had the highest bone volume/total volume (23.27% ± 0.15%) (p = 0.001). The histomorphometric and micro-CT values of Group 2 were higher than those of Group 1 but lower than those of Group 3 and Group 4.The results of the study show that a single dose of locally administered TP has a positive effect on the integration of allografts. However, further studies are necessary to identify the mechanism of action and the effective minimum and maximum doses of locally administered TP.     

Update on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the most common form of secondary osteoporosis, and fractures are the most frequent adverse effects of this medication. Glucocorticoids have several direct and indirect adverse effects on bone, primarily through reduction in osteoblasts and osteocyte activity, and life span. Recent advances in the pathophysiology and prevention of this complication of therapy provide hope for its amelioration in patients being treated with glucocorticoids. Several effective pharmacologic agents are now available, and guidelines for the prevention and treatment of GIOP have been published. Despite these advances, many patients still do not receive proper prevention or therapy.     

Treatment of Osteoporosis with Parathyroid Hormone and Teriparatide

Nowadays osteoporosis treatment is based primarily on therapy with antiresorptive agents, like the bisphosphonates. Parathyroid hormone (Preotact) and human recombinant parathyroid hormone peptide 1–34 (Teriparatide) are relatively new for the treatment of osteoporosis and belong to the group of anabolic agents. Both agents demonstrated an increase in bone mineral density and a significant reduction in vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis when given for 18–24 months. Data on nonvertebral fractures are, however, not clear-cut, and so far only bisphosphonates and strontium ranelate have been demonstrated to reduce all types of fractures and therefore remain the front-line option for treatment of osteoporosis. As the safety, tolerability, and cost of the therapy also influence the choice of therapy, Preotact and Teriparatide might be useful additions to the armamentarium for (second-line) treatment of osteoporosis. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Teriparatide’s effects on quantitative ultrasound parameters and bone density in women with established osteoporosis

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of teriparatide [hPTH (1–34)] on quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) at the axial and appendicular (hand) skeleton in women with established osteoporosis who had been previously treated with antiresorptive drugs. Sixty postmenopausal women (age 71.1±6.8 years) were randomly assigned to either receive once-daily 20-μg subcutaneous teriparatide (n=30) or continue the antiresorptive treatment (n=30). At baseline and at 2-month intervals we measured QUS parameters at the calcaneus using the Achilles Plus (GE, Lunar), measuring speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and stiffness index; QUS parameters at the phalanxes using the Bone Profiler (IGEA), measuring amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS), bone transmission time (BTT), and fast wave amplitude (FWA); and BMD values at the right hand using dual x-ray absorptiometry. BMD at the lumbar spine, femur, and whole body were measured on a 6-monthly basis. After 1 year of teriparatide treatment, the changes in BMD were 7.1% at the lumbar spine, 2.6% at the femoral neck, −0.8% at the total hip, and −0.6% for the whole body. Teriparatide induced a significant and persistent decrease in BMD at the hand (−3.6% at month 6 and −2.7% at month 12). In the teriparatide group at month 12, AD-SoS was slightly increased (0.7%; not significant), whereas BTT significantly decreased (−16.4%, p<0.001) and FWA significantly increased (17.5%, p<0.001). The FWA/BTT ratio increased by 26.6% and 32.9% at months 6 and 12, respectively, in the teriparatide group and remained unchanged in the antiresorptive group. In women with established osteoporosis who had previously been treated with various antiresorptive drugs, 1 year of teriparatide treatment determined the expected increase in BMD at the axial skeleton and a significant and prolonged decrease in BMD at the hand. Moreover, teriparatide determined important changes in BTT and FWA, two parameters obtained from the analysis of ultrasonographic trace at the phalanxes, which could be considered in monitoring for the early effect of teriparatide on bone.     

细胞外信号调节激酶1/2途径参与甲状旁腺素1-34诱导的心肌细胞肥大

目的 观察丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的上游激酶1(MAPKK,MEK1)抑制剂PD98059对大鼠甲状旁腺素1-34(rPTH1-34)诱导的心室肌细胞肥大的影响及细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)表达的变化,分析MEK/ERK途径的可能作用. 方法 体外培养新生大鼠心室肌细胞,10-7mol/LrPTH1-34诱导建立心肌细胞肥大模型,在模型中加入2×10-5mol/L PD98059,Motic Images Advanced 3.0软件测定细胞直径、3H-亮氨酸掺入实验检测细胞蛋白合成速率、RT-PCR半定量测定心房利钠肽mRNA、Western blot方法观察ERK1/2、磷酸化ERK1/2蛋白表达的变化. 结果 与正常组相比,10-7mol/L rPTH1-34孵育24 h可使体外培养的心肌细胞直径增加13.6 μm、细胞蛋白合成速率增加898 cpm/well,使心房利钠肽mRNA表达增加73.9%,p-ERK1/2蛋白表达增加15%(P＜0.05).与PTH组相比,预先给予PD98059可使细胞直径减少7.1 μm,细胞蛋白合成速率减少644 cpm/well,心房利钠肽mRNA表达下降52.2%,磷酸化ERK1/2蛋白表达减少18%(P＜0.05).单独使用PD98059对正常心肌细胞没有影响(P＞0.05). 结论 PD98059通过抑制ERK1/2、磷酸化ERK1/2的表达阻断了心肌细胞肥大反应,MEK/ERK1/2途径的活化参与了rPTH1-34的致肥大作用.     

Persistence with teriparatide in patients with osteoporosis: the UK experience

Introduction The objective of this paper was to determine the persistence with teriparatide at 12 months in all patients in the UK who were prescribed the treatment since its launch.Methods Virtually all patients prescribed teriparatide in the UK receive treatment through Healthcare at Home, Basingstoke, UK. Data was obtained to assess the start date, discontinuation date and reason for discontinuation in all patients receiving teriparatide since its launch. Persistence was defined as the number of patients continuing treatment.Results A total of 1,104 patients were included in the analysis. The median duration of use in all patients was 252 days. Of the 435 patients who were at least 12 months post-initiation of treatment, persistence was 87%. Forty-two patients (3.8%) had discontinued treatment due to adverse events.Conclusions This study demonstrates that persistence with teriparatide at 12 months is very high and is probably greater than that of existing oral therapies for osteoporosis. The reasons for the high persistence rates seen with teriparatide are likely to be multi-factorial. The high persistence rates should help to optimise the effectiveness of therapy in this group of high-risk patients.     

Effect of raloxifene after recombinant teriparatide [hPTH(1–34)] treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Summary Loss of bone mineral density occurs after discontinuation of teriparatide, if no subsequent treatment is given. Sequential raloxifene prevented rapid bone loss at lumbar spine and further increased bone mineral density (BMD) at femoral neck, whether raloxifene was started immediately or after a one-year delay following teriparatide treatment. Introduction We compared the sequential effects of raloxifene treatment with a placebo on teriparatide-induced increases in bone mineral density (BMD). A year of open-label raloxifene extended the study to assess the response with and without delay after discontinuation of teriparatide. Methods Following a year of open-label teriparatide 20 μg/day treatment, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were randomly assigned to raloxifene 60 mg/day (n = 157) or a placebo (n = 172) for year 2, followed by a year of open-label raloxifene. BMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results The raloxifene and placebo groups showed a decrease in lumbar spine (LS) BMD in year 2 for raloxifene and placebo groups (−1.0 ± 0.3%, P = 0.004; and −4.0 ± 0.3%, P < 0.001, respectively); the decrease was less with raloxifene (P < 0.001). Open-label raloxifene treatment reversed the LS BMD decrease with a placebo, resulting in similar decreases 2 years after randomization (−2.6 ± 0.4% (raloxifene-raloxifene) and −2.7 ± 0.4% (placebo-placebo). At study end, LS and femoral neck (FN) BMD were higher than pre-teriparatide levels, with no significant differences between the raloxifene-raloxifene and placebo-raloxifene groups, respectively (LS: 6.1 ± 0.5% vs. 5.1 ± 0.5%; FN: 3.4 ± 0.6% vs. 3.0 ± 0.5%). Conclusion Sequential raloxifene prevented rapid bone loss at the LS and increased FN BMD whether raloxifene was started immediately or after a one-year delay following teriparatide treatment. Preliminary data presented previously at the International Osteoporosis Foundation World Congress on Osteoporosis, Toronto Canada June 2–6, 2006, abstract published: Adami S, Munoz-Torres M, Econs MJ, Sipos A, Xie L, Dalsky GP, McClung M, Felsenberg D, Brown JP, Brandi ML, San Martin J. Effect of raloxifene after teriparatide treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(Suppl 2):S137.