Postmenopausal osteoporosis--intervention and prophylaxis. A review.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a common disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality through fractures of the femoral neck, vertebrae and distal forearm. The national cost of this illness is measured in billions of dollars annually. Although the etiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis is unclear, specific effective therapies are available if initiated early in the course of the disease. A large body of information concerning this illness has been generated but many questions remain. The epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis and therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis are discussed in this review with emphasis on prophylactic and interventional therapy as related to subpopulations of women at risk for osteoporosis.