[Effects of SERMs on bone health. The evaluation of raloxifene treatment for elderly women with osteoporosis using bone turnover markers].

The therapeutic effect of Raloxifene (RLX) on bone turnover markers was investigated in the elderly women with osteoporosis. The mean age of the control group (< 75 years old) was 67.0 years old, similar to a large-scale clinical trial (MORE study) , and that of the elderly group ( > or =years old) was 80.7 years old. The degrees of percentage change from baseline of serum NTX, urine NTX, and BAP in the elderly group were the same as in the control group. The interval of measurement to assess the effect of RLX seems to be appropriate 3 months after treatment in serum and urine NTX, and 6 months in BAP.