Clinical experience with etidronate in osteoporosis

Clinical experience with cyclical etidronate for the treatment of osteoporosis was reviewed in 69 consecutive patients. Six patients stopped treatment either due to adverse effects (5) or the decision to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (1). Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were obtained in 63 patients (33 with spinal osteoporotic fractures and 30 with osteopenia) before and 1 year after treatment. BMD increased by an average of 4.50% (p<0.001) in the lumbar spine (range +14% to −12%) and 5.5% (p<0.01) at Ward's triangle (range +31% to −13%) while there was no significant change at the femoral neck (range +11% to −12%) and greater trochanter (range +12% to −15%). Significant rises in BMD were found at the lumbar spine and Ward's triangle in both osteoporotic and osteopenic groups. Of patients analysed after 1 year, 83% had an increased bone mass at the lumbar spine and 55% at the femoral neck.