Expert Commentary

STOP enforcing a 5-year rule for menopausal hormone therapy
START individualizing therapy to optimize health and quality of life
Steven R. Goldstein, MD, is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. He is Director of Gynecologic Ultrasound and Co-Director of Bone Densitometry at New York University Medical Center in New York City. He serves on the OBG Management Board of Editors.
The author reports that he is a speaker for Warner Chilcott and Shionogi.
All participants (n = 21) received teriparatide 20 µg daily in the morning or evening, according to preference. They also were given calcium 630 mg and vitamin D 800 IU daily.
BMD increased at the spine by 10.8% (standard deviation: 8.3%), total hip by 6.2% (5.6%), and femoral neck by 7.6% (3.4%) (all P <.001). Transiliac biopsies demonstrated significant increases in cortical width and porosity, and trabecular bone volume and number increased as well. Four women had no increase in BMD.
Overall, Cohen and colleagues concluded that teriparatide was associated with increased BMD at the spine and hip and improved trabecular microarchitecture and stiffness at the iliac crest in the majority of women with IOP.
WHAT THIS EVIDENCE MEANS FOR PRACTICE
Although ObGyns rarely prescribe teriparatide, often leaving this option for metabolic bone experts to offer, we should keep premenopausal IOP in mind when younger patients sustain low-trauma fractures of the hip or vertebrae, as well as fracture of an upper or lower extremity or the ribs.
Teriparatide appears to be an excellent choice for the majority of premenopausal patients with IOP (81% of patients in this pilot study).
START individualizing therapy to optimize health and quality of life
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