[Daily practice using the guidelines for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Bone mineral measurements and guideline].

We reviewed a role of BMD measurements in Japanese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. The BMD measurements are necessary in the diagnosis of osteoporosis, the determination of initiation of drug therapy, and the evaluation of fracture risk and the therapeutical response. It is important to understand not only the method and the site of the measurement but also the characteristics. On EBM, axial DXA, as the site and the method of BMD measurements, is recommended to all women >or= 65 y.o., and women <65 y.o., with risk factor.