Menu
Back to Journals » International Journal of Women's Health » Volume 4
Clinical role of bisphosphonate therapy
Authors Hampson G, Fogelman I
Received 14 April 2012
Accepted for publication 2 May 2012
Published 3 September 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 455—469
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S24783
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 4
Geeta Hampson,1,2 Ignac Fogelman1,3
1Osteoporosis Screening Unit, Guy’s Hospital, 2Department of Chemical Pathology, St Thomas’ Hospital, 3Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
Abstract: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are synthetic analogues of pyrophosphate. They inhibit bone resorption and are therefore widely used in disorders where there are increases or disruptions in bone resorption. This includes postmenopausal osteoporosis, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone, and malignancy-related bone loss. To best understand the clinical application of BPs, an understanding of their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is important. This review describes the structure, pharmacology and mode of action of BPs, focusing on their role in clinical practice. Controversies and side effects surrounding their use will also be discussed.
Keywords: pyrophosphate, bone resorption, postmenopausal osteoporosis, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone, malignancy-related bone loss
© 2012 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.
By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.