Clinical Investigation

One Year Results of Raloxifene and Calcitonin Treatments in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

  • Gülcan GÜRER
  • Ömer Faruk SENDUR
  • Ali AYDENIZ
  • Ali Hakan AYDEMIR

Received Date: 19.01.2006 Accepted Date: 11.05.2006 Meandros Med Dent J 2006;7(1):15-18

Objective: The risk of bone fractures is higher in osteoporotic elderly people, particularly in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene is the only selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been approved for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption and is recommended for use in women with osteoporosis. This study was performed to investigate the effects of raloxifene and calcitonin treatments in postmenopausal osteoporosis by comparison of the respective bone mineral density (BMD) values. Materials and methods: Forty four women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (raloxifene: 22 , calcitonin :22) were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. BMD was measured twice in the lumbar spine and left proximal femur before treatment and at the end of one year by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.  Raloxifene was administered at a dose of 60 mg/day to the first group; calcitonin was given 200IU per day as a nasal spray. Results: Although statistically significant improvement was found in the lumbar spine with raloxifene (p=0.011) and calcitonin (p=0.008) treatments, no improvement was determined in femur BMD (p>0.05) level at end of the first year. Statistical difference was not observed between two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: While significant improvement was produced in trabecular bone with raloxifen and calcitonin treatments at the end of one year, no change was observed in cortical bone by the two treatments.

Keywords: Postmenopausal osteoporosis, calcitonin, raloxifene