Is Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Preventable?

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Abstract
Osteoporosis is the most serious side effect of long-term corticosteroid therapy. The bone mass in corticosteroid-treated patients is reduced in the forearm, spine, and proximal femur, with more loss in trabecular than in cortical bone. The bone mass lost varies from 10 to 40 percent, depending on the site examined, the dose and duration of corticosteroid therapy, the particular corticosteroid used, and the disease treated. The tendency of corticosteroids to damage trabecular bone more than cortical bone is reflected in the greater loss of lumbar mineral density assessed in the lateral projection than in the anteroposterior projection1. More important, . . .