Abstract
Osteoporosis is one of the most serious adverse effects experienced by patients receiving long term corticosteroid therapy. Bone loss occurs soon after corticosteroid therapy is initiated and results from a complex mechanism involving osteoblastic suppression and increased bone resorption. There are a number of factors that may increase the risk of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis [smoking, excessive alcohol (ethanol) consumption, amenorrhoea, relative immobilisation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, hypogonadism in men, organ transplantation]. The initial assessment of patients about to start taking corticosteroids should include measurement of spinal bone density, urinary calcium level and plasma calcifediol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) level; serum testosterone levels should also be measured when hypogonadism is suspected. Many different drugs have been used to prevent osteoporosis in patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy, including thiazide diuretics, cholecalciferol (vitamin D) metabolites, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, fluoride, estrogens, anabolic steroids and progesterone. At present, however, published studies have failed to demonstrate a reduction in the rate of fractur...Continue Reading
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