The effect of alendronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the effect of alendronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis on subjective criteria and on bone mineral density after two years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The authors collected data from 44 women by questionaire and analysed the data from DEXA examination. The patients were given Fosamax 10 mg and calcium 500 mg per day in the years 2001-2002.

RESULTS

The compliance of alendronate was good in 42 women (95.5%). 15 patients were very satisfied with the treatment, 22 were satisfied and 5 patients claimed no improvement at the end of the study. A positive effect of the treatment was seen in 37 patients (88.1%). 21 patients claimed to have no pain and 15 patients suffered mild intermitent pain at the end of the study. 24 patients used no analgetics and 9 patients used them irregularly. 11 patients claimed to have normal activity and 22 patients had mildly diminished activity in daily life. The authors encountered no symptomatic vertebral or nonvertebral fracture during the study. The mean BMD in the lumbar spine improved in T score by 0.38 SD after one year and 0.35 SD after the second year. The mean BMD has improved in the neck region in T score by 0.21 SD after the first year and 0.21 SD after the second year. The mean BMD in lumbar spine has improved in Z score by 0.31 SD after one year and 0.02 SD after the second year. The mean BMD in the neck region has improved in Z score by 0.31 SD after the first year and 0.16 SD after the second year. The mean change of bone mineral density in lumbar spine was +4.17% after the first years and +4.19% after the second year. The mean change of BMD in the femoral neck region was +4.46% after the first years and + 3.71% after the second year. According to student t-test all the data of increased BMD were statisticaly significant at the 5% level of the significance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Alendronate therapy significantly reduced the pain and the need for analgesics. It improved the daily activity and mobility of the spine in the patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. It resulted in a positive change of BMD in vertebral region of +8.36% and +8.17% in the femoral neck region after two years. The fracture risk in vertebral region was diminished by 31% and in the femoral neck region by 38% at the end of the study. (Tab. 11, Ref. 14.).