The effects of cyclical etidronate on early postmenopausal bone loss - An open, randomized controlled study

Cyclical etidronate is well established in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, but there are less data on its effects on bone loss in the ea rly menopause. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cycl ical etidronate therapy on bone loss in the lumbar spine and proximal femur in early menopausal women. Seventy-seven women aged over 40 yr who had cea sed menstruating 6-36 mo prior to enrollment into the study were recruited into an open, randomized controlled study of cyclical etidronate therapy. B one mineral density in the lumbar spine and proximal femur was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry using a Lunar DPX bone densitometer. Fifty-five women completed the study. At the end of the 104-wk study period , significant treatment effects were observed both in the lumbar spine and proximal femur. The estimated mean treatment effect in the lumbar spine was 2.79% (95% confidence interval 0.47, 5.10; p = 0.019). Corresponding figur es fur the femoral neck and greater trochanter were 3.23% (0.63, 5.82; p = 0.016) and 3.77% (1.09, 6.45; p = 0.007). No significant differences betwee n the groups were demonstrated at Ward's triangle. These results demonstrat e that cyclical etidronate therapy prevents bone loss in the spine and prox imal femur in early postmenopausal women and provides a safe and effective alternative for women who are unwilling or unable to tolerate hormone repla cement therapy.