Changes of Lumbar BMD (Bone Mineral Density) and Bone Turnover Markers
after Switching the Osteoporosis Medication into Raloxifene (60 mg) in
Postmenopausal Korean Women

Korean J Bone Metab > Volume 12(2); 2005 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Bone Metabolism 2005;12(2):189-194.

Changes of Lumbar BMD (Bone Mineral Density) and Bone Turnover Markers after Switching the Osteoporosis Medication into Raloxifene (60 mg) in Postmenopausal Korean Women

타약제로 골다공증 치료를 해온 한국 폐경 여성에서 Raloxifene (60 mg)으로 교체 투여 2년 후의 골밀도와 골표지자 변화

주일우,김윤희,이은정,오한진

성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성제일병원 가정의학과

Abstract

Background
Raloxifene (60 mg) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator indicated for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis instead of hormone replacement therapy. The decrease in vertebral fracture risk with raloxifene use has been reported and the raloxifene's effects on BMD and bone turnover marker have been measured. However, switch-overed raloxifene's effects after some other medication such as estradiol 2 mg + norethisterone 1mg, estradiol 2 mg, and alendronate 10 m are little of reports. This study is performed to determine the changes of lumbar BMD (bone mineral density) and bone turnover markers after switching the osteoporosis medication into raloxifene (60 mg) in postmenopausal Korean women who have visited the Health Care Center in Seoul. Subjects and Methods: We evaluated postmenopausal Korean women aged over 50 who visited the Osteoporosis clinic in the Health Care Center in Seoul from March of 2002 to December of 2004 retrospectively. The subjects who have already had osteoporosis medications for over 1 year were selected and switched over and 2-years follow-up after raloxifene treatment was done. The changes of lumbar BMD (bone mineral density) and bone turnover markers after switching the osteoporosis medication into raloxifene (60 mg) were evaluated.
Results
After switching over, the percent change of osteocalcin level was increased in the 1st year (0.66), less increased in the 2nd year (0.46). Alkaline phosphatase level was increased significantly for the 1st year (0.09 %change) but decreased in the 2nd year. Lumbar BMD did not increase and showed a decrease of 1 %change in each year.
Conclusions
This study suggests that raloxifene might have effects on maintaining the bone mineral density within physiological levels and decrease elevated bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women who have switched other osteoporosis medications into raloxifene.

Key Words: SERM, Raloxifene, Alendronate, HRT, BMD, Bone turnover markers