A lady with a history of smoking and a poor apetite fracture

A lady with a history of smoking and a poor apetite fractures her hadn and leg as the result of a fall. As part of the treatmetn, a doctor initiates a therapy that includes bisphosphonate and teriparatide. What is the rationale behind this treatment?

Solution

Bisphosphonates and teriparatides are used to treat osteoporosis. Rickets (in children) and osteomalacia (in adults) are conditions in which mineralization of bone matrix is deficient. In osteoporosis both matix and minerals are lost. The resultant decrease in bone mass and strength due to osteoporosis leads to a increased incidence of fractures. Thus, the lady having a poor apetite might have osteoporosis which has led to fracture on fall. The efficacy of using calcitonin, a group of drugs (called biphosphonates) that interfere with osteoclasts and teriparatide that a parathyroid hormone supplement is present being evaluated.