Long-term benefit of teriparatide for osteoporosis shown over 10-year follow-up

At 10 years follow-up, patients with osteoporosis treated with teriparatide had reduced fracture occurrence that was similar to the general population, however, Health Related Quality of Life remained low according to a study.

This analysis included 40 women with osteoporosis and vertebral compression who received teriparatide 20 μg given subcutaneously daily for a mean of 18 months (range 14-24 months) as part of a prospective, open-labelled study. The control group included 25 women with osteoporosis treated with placebo from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled growth hormone trial with daily subcutaneous injections for 18 months. In addition, 233 women of similar age from a random population sample also served as controls.

At baseline, after 18 months, after 36 months, and after 10 years patients underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and took questionnaires.

All women had experienced fractures at baseline. After 10 years, the fracture rate declined to 35% in the teriparatide treated patients, which is similar to the general population sample fracture rate of 25% at the start of the study and 28% after 10 years.

Patients treated with teriparatide experienced an increase in bone mineral density, but at 10 years follow-up, levels were similar to baseline.

Health Related Quality of Life remained lower before treatment and at 10 years follow-up in the teriparatide group than in the general population.

Reference
Kontogeorgos G, Krantz E, Trimpou P, Laine CM, Landin-Wilhelmsen K. Teriparatide treatment in severe osteoporosis – a controlled 10-year follow-up study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):1011. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05987-2. PMID: 36424580.