Osteoporos Sarcopenia.  2016 Mar;2(1):13-19.

Medical treatment of severe osteoporosis including new concept of advanced severe osteoporosis

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Koyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
  • 3Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, International St. Mary's Hospital, South Korea.
  • 4Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, South Korea.
  • 5Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. yschung@ajou.ac.kr

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone strength, leading to an increased risk of fracture. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis as a bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations below that of a young adults (T-score of -2.5 or lower). Severe osteoporosis is differentiated from osteoporosis by the presence of one or more fragility fractures in addition to this T-score. However, the current WHO definition may be insufficient to reflect the diverse spectrum of osteoporosis or severe osteoporosis, which can encompass various number and severity of prevalent fractures. To overcome these shortcomings of the WHO definition of osteoporosis, we propose a concept of 'advanced severe osteoporosis', which is defined by the presence of proximal femur fragility fracture or two or more fragility fractures in addition to BMD T-score of -2.5 or less. Based on the previous clinical trials and post-hoc analyses, we recommend selective estrogen receptor modulators, bisphosphonates, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) monoclonal antibody, and parathyroid hormone for the medical treatment of severe osteoporosis. In cases of advanced severe osteoporosis or osteoporosis that does not respond to previous anti-osteoporotic treatments, we also recommend parathyroid hormone, bisphosphonates, and RANKL monoclonal antibody. In conclusion, we need more precise assessment of osteoporosis and further stratification of the disease by number of prevalent fractures in addition to BMD. More aggressive managements should be provided for those with advanced severe osteoporosis.

Keyword

Advanced severe osteoporosis; Fragility fractures; Medical treatment; Severe osteoporosis

MeSH Terms

Bone Density
Bone Diseases, Metabolic
Diphosphonates
Femur
Humans
Osteoporosis*
Parathyroid Hormone
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
World Health Organization
Young Adult
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