[Comparative analysis of therapeutic effects of carbocalcitonin and and conjugated estrogens in post-menopausal osteoporosis].

In order to assess the correlation between menopause and osteoporosis, both in pathogenetic and therapeutical terms, a study was carried out in four comparable group of patients at Department B of the Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the University of Turin. Patients were divided as follows: 24 patents affected by evident osteoporosis, 39 patients with the first symptoms of osteoporosis, 27 with hypercalcemia and 33 healthy controls. The following tests were performed in all subjects: serum assay of androstenedione, estrone, 17-beta-estradiol, PTH, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine. Laboratory tests were repeated monthly in all patients and control subjects. Dual chromatic ray bone densitometry was performed in all patients at the start and end of treatment. With regard to therapy, each group was subdivided into two equal subgroups which were treated with carbocalcitonin or conjugated estrogens. From the findings, it is clear that there is a non-significant difference between serum levels of androstenedione, estrone and estradiol in the three groups examined and control subjects. Although the possibility that the fall in steroid hormones might contribute to bone load cannot be excluded, it is not possible to demonstrate that this is the most important factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis given that many women do not develop osteoporotic symptoms after menopause. In addition, in therapeutic terms, all bone density parameters considered in patient osteoporosis improved after therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)