Once-weekly teriparatide treatment on osteoporosis

Teriparatide (human PTH 1-34) transiently stimulate both bone formation and bone resorption and subsequently bone formation markers increased. The changes in bone turnover markers 24 h after each injection of once-weekly 56.5μg teriparatide were constant for 24 weeks. Once-weekly injections of teriparatide increased bone mineral density by 8.1% at the lumbar spine and reduced the risk of new vertebral fracture with a relative risk reduction of 80% compared to placebo for the patients with osteoporosis. Significant vertebral fracture risk reductions were also observed in the patients with high risk for fracture such as higher age, low bone mineral density, or sever vertebral fracture grade. Once-weekly teriparatide improved cortical bone parameters at proximal femur, may have the potential to prevent hip fracture. The duration of teriparatide treatment was limited. Therefore subsequent treatment for osteoporosis should be need. Bisphosphonates seem to be a useful choice as a subsequent treatment to once-weekly teriparatide.