Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of vertebral fracture in young postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis

Christian Roux ^1*, Jacques Fechtenbaum ¹, Sami Kolta ¹, Giancarlo Isaia ², Jorge B Cannata Andia ³ and Jean-Pierre Devogelaer ⁴

¹ University Paris-Descartes, France
² University of Torino, Italy
³ University Central des Asturias, Spain
⁴ University of Louvain, Belgium

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: christian.roux{at}cch.aphp.fr.

Accepted 13 July 2008

Abstract

Objectives: Early osteoporotic fractures have a great impact on the disease progression, the first fracture being a major risk factor for further fractures. Subsequently, the efficacy of antiosteoporotic treatments in the younger women appears of utmost interest. Strontium ranelate is an anti-osteoporotic treatment, simultaneously reducing bone resorption while promoting bone formation. Its efficacy against vertebral fractures is presently assessed in a subset of women aged 50 to 65 years.

Methods: SOTI was an international, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, supporting the efficacy of strontium ranelate 2g/day orally in reducing the risk of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and a prevalent vertebral fracture. 353 of these randomized women, aged 50 to 65 years were included in this analysis over 4 years.

Results: Over 4 years, strontium ranelate significantly reduced the risk of vertebral fracture by 35% (RR=0.65; 95%CI [0.42;0.99], p<0.05). In the strontium ranelate group, the BMD mean change from baseline increased by 15.8% at lumbar spine and 7.1% at femoral neck.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate a significant vertebral antifracture efficacy of strontium ranelate in young postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis aged 50 to 65 years and confirms the efficacy of this anti-osteoporotic treatment to prevent vertebral fractures, whatever the age of the patients.