Parathyroid hormone treatment for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was first used in the treatment of osteoporosis i n 1929 when Fuller Albright demonstrated an increase in skeletal calcium in rats by injecting parathyroid extracts (1). This was later confirmed by Ha rts Selye in 1932 (2). The amino acid sequencing of PTH was performed in th e early 1970s (3). Subsequently, small clinical studies were initiated to d etermine if PTH had therapeutic potential to augment bone mass in osteoporo tic patients (4). Since then, a lot has been learned about the role of the amino terminal fragments of PTH in the treatment and prevention of osteopor osis in animals and humans. This article reviews the available evidence for the use of PTH fragments in osteoporosis, particularly glucocorticoid-indu ced osteoporosis (GIOP).