Combining therapies may be an effective option for women with severe disease.

2003 JUN 12 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Combination therapy with hormone replacement and alendronate yields greater improvements in bone mineral density at the spine and hip than either therapy alone, according to a new study.

The impact of osteoporosis is most pronounced in elderly women who have the greatest risk of fracture. Available antiresorptive agents increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The authors wrote that previous clinical trials show an increase in BMD correlates well with a reduction in bone fractures.

Susan L. Greenspan, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and colleagues analyzed data from 373 women, ages 65-90 years, at a single academic U.S. medical center from January 1996 to May 2001. The study was designed to examine the effectiveness and safety of combination therapy with hormone therapy and alendronate, compared with each agent alone in a group of elderly women living in the community. Results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Participants in the study were randomly assigned to receive hormone therapy (conjugated equine estrogen, 0.625 mg/d, with or without medroxyprogesterone, 2.5 mg/d) and alendronate, 10 mg daily, both agents, or neither. All participants received calcium and vitamin D supplements.

"Bone mineral density at 3 years was significantly greater at all femoral and vertebral sites in women treated with combination therapy than with monotherapy, with mean increases of 5.9% at the total hip, 10.4% at the postero-anterior ...