Treatment with etidronate for men with idiopathic osteoporosis

Abstract

In a recent overview of current and potential future drug treatments for osteoporosis, the therapies for osteoporosis in men were discussed briefly.1 Osteoporosis in men is a heterogeneous disease of which 50% of the cases are classified as idiopathic osteoporosis (IOP).2 Long term data on treatment of men with IOP are not yet available.

In an uncontrolled open study of 22 white men with IOP, we have studied prospectively, the effect of a two year treatment with cyclic etidronate (400 mg/d during two weeks every three months) and calcium (500 mg/d during 10 weeks every three months). All patients were extensively screened to exclude any causes of secondary osteoporosis, such as hypogonadism and hypercalciuria, or any other risk factors. Liver function tests were normal in all patients and there was no excessive alcohol consumption either. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were performed every six months in the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and in the femoral . . .