Prevention and management of steroid-induced osteoporosis.

Glucocorticoids were first used therapeutically in the late 1940s. While they have revolutionised the treatment of many diseases, they also have many side effects, including osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis has been recognised as an important complication since the first use of steroids, we are still a long way from understanding the pathophysiology of steroid-induced osteoporosis.