Efficacy of different medicines used for the treatment of osteoporosis by using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease and common condition affecting one in three women and one in twelve men is a major health burden worldwide and in our population as well. A total of 180 patients including 30 in control group, 126 osteoporotics and 54 osteopenics, were diagnosed and analyzed with the help of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and treated in different groups with different brands of medicines; bisphophonates (alendronates and risederonates). Overall results in the therapy group BMD (g/cm²) spine improved from 0.748 ± 0.0088 to 0.777 ± 0.0091 after one year of treatment while BMD hip rose from 0.713 ± 0.0087 to 0.730 ± 0.009 in a similar period. In the osteoporotic group (n = 106), BMD spine increased from 0.699 ± 0.0077 to 0.727 ± 0.007 and BMD hip from 0.679 ± 0.009 to 0.693 ± 0.009. In the osteopenic group (n = 44), BMD spine increased from 0.863 ± 0.011 to 0.898 ± 0.011 and BMD hip from 0.793 ± 0.007 to 0.817 ± 0.012. Patients on Osto, Drate and Fosamax (alendronates) did better than those on Dronate and Actonel (risedronates). Of alendronates, Fosamax and Osto treated patients did better than those on Drate. Of risedronates, Actonel treated patients faired better than those on Dronate which showed the least improvement.   Key words: Osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone mineral density, DEXA, alendronate, risedronate.