This article is part of a series on The Scientific Basis of Rheumatology: A Decade of Progress, edited by Peter Lipsky and Ravinder Maini.

Review

Progress in osteoporosis and fracture prevention: focus on postmenopausal women

Kenneth G Saag¹ and Piet Geusens²

¹  Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 820 Faculty Office Tower, 510 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294-3708, USA

²  Department of Internal Medicine, Subdivision of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, Postbus 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands & Biomedical Research Institute, University Hasselt, Agoralaan, gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

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Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:251doi:10.1186/ar2815

Published:	14 October 2009

Abstract

In the past decade, we have witnessed a revolution in osteoporosis diagnosis and therapeutics. This includes enhanced understanding of basic bone biology, recognizing the severe consequences of fractures in terms of morbidity and short-term re-fracture and mortality risk and case finding based on clinical risks, bone mineral density, new imaging approaches, and contributors to secondary osteoporosis. Medical interventions that reduce fracture risk include sufficient calcium and vitamin D together with a wide spectrum of drug therapies (with antiresorptive, anabolic, or mixed effects). Emerging therapeutic options that target molecules of bone metabolism indicate that the next decade should offer even greater promise for further improving our diagnostic and treatment approaches.