Effect of rocaltrol on bone mass in patients with pulmonary disease treated with corticosteroids

J Asthma. 2003 May;40(3):251-5. doi: 10.1081/jas-120018319.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcitriol on bone mass in patients with corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. Thirty-seven patients (26 females, 11 males, mean age 66.4 years) with pulmonary disease under long-term treatment with corticosteroids (5-10 mg prednisolone daily) and osteopenia/osteoporosis verified by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurement were enrolled into the study. Rocaltrol was prescribed to 30/37 of the patients, the rest of the patients (6 females, 1 male) served as controls. In the treatment group, there was a slight increase of bone mass in the hip and lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4), whereas the control group showed a decrease of bone mass (change rate of bone mass in patients +0.8% and +1.0%, respectively, vs. -1.9% and -0.3%, respectively, in the control group). The preliminary results of our study suggest a beneficial role for the treatment of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis with Rocaltrol, which is well-tolerated by patients and cost-efficient in patient management.

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Density / drug effects*
  • Calcitriol / therapeutic use*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced*
  • Osteoporosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoporosis / drug therapy
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Prednisolone
  • Calcitriol