Prevention and management of osteoporosis.

The importance of osteoporosis as a health problem in the United States was underscored by the enthusiastic reception given to the two previous Clinical Symposia (1983 and 1987) written by Frederick S. Kaplan, MD. Along with discussions of the physiology of bone remodeling and pathophysiology of bone loss, this extensive revision clarifies the roles of estrogen, other hormones, and cytokines in bone maintenance and resorption. The author outlines the latest therapeutic guidelines, emphasizing the life-long preventive measures and medical interventions that can help halt the development of this preventable disorder.