Abstract

YURGAKY S, JAMES MILTHON  and  ARREDONDO G, ANA MARÍA. OSTEOPOROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH GLUCOCORTICOIDS: A PRACTICAL APPROACH. A REVIEW. rev.fac.med [online]. 2010, vol.18, n.2, pp.210-220. ISSN 0121-5256.

Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disease in the world and one of the most important causes of its secondary form is the chronic use of glucocorticoids; approximately 0.5% of the world’s population is chronic consumer of this medicine because of its many indications in the treatment of rheumatic, dermatologic, pulmonary or renal diseases among others. Patients with glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis generates high costs for health systems derived from its complications, such as hip fractures, being more cost-effective the prevention and treatment of the disease than the management of its complications, that constitutes an important reason for its early diagnose and treatment. Every patient who takes prednisolone 5 mg daily or more for a minimum of three months is considered at risk of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis; these patients should be screened with DXA, which is the election diagnostic method for all types of osteoporosis. Diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia by T score is indicative for specific treatment with biphosphonates, among which risedronate and alendronate have demonstrated to be more effective. Other indication for the treatment of these patients is based on the WHO’s score FRAX. Finally, prevention must be done in every glucocorticoid chronic consumer, basically with changes in lifestyle and the daily intake of 1000-1500 mg of elemental calcium and 600 units of vitamin D.

Keywords : osteoporosis; glucocorticoids; drug toxicity.

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