Alendronate increased bone mineral density but did not reduce new fractures in glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis.

Patients 560 patients who were 17–83 years of age and had rheumatological, pulmonary, dermatological, gastrointestinal, or other diseases that required >1 year of glucocorticoid treatment (daily dose >7.5 mg of prednisone or its equivalent). Exclusion criteria were evidence of metabolic bone disease (other than glucocorticoid induced or postmenopausal osteoporosis), low serum 25hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, concomitant drug treatments that might aVect bone turnover, pregnancy, lactation, renal insuYciency, severe cardiac disease, or major upper gastrointestinal disease. A 2.5 mg dose of alendronate was used in the multinational study only, and patients allocated to this group (n=83) were not analysed. Patients (n=477, 30% men, 22% premenopausal women, 49% postmenopausal women) were stratified according to duration of glucocorticoid treatment: <4 months (34%), 4–12 months (21%), and >12 months (45%).