The subcutaneous daily dose of teriparatide (20 μg) decreased the occurrence of new VCFs in white women (70 years of age) by 65%, in a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Moderate-to-severe fractures and multiple vertebral fractures were reduced by 90% and 77%, respectively. These results indicate that the clinical effects of teriparatide were consistent in both older and younger women. Age does not affect the safety and efficacy of teriparatide in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis [39]. In our study, teriparatide-mediated fracture risk reduction

was 78.57%. Patients treated with teriparatide had a significantly lower risk of new-onset VCFs (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.02–2.1). In order to evaluate therapeutic effect, serial measurements of BMD are necessary. There is no absolutely reliable skeletal site or region of interest for Selleckchem AZD3965 check details monitoring these changes. The International Society for Clinical Densitometry recommends the lumbar spine as the most preferred bone site for monitoring serial changes in BMD [40, 41]. Even though one patient in group A and three patients in group B had only one usable vertebral body from L1 to L4 for the DEXA examination, we still preferred to use the lumbar spine for BMD monitoring of treatment. Furthermore, the beneficial effects FDA-approved Drug Library high throughput of teriparatide on vertebral fracture

prevention and BMD persisted after treatment cessation. Teriparatide had a sustained effect in reducing the risk of non-vertebral fragility fractures for 18–30 months after discontinuation of treatment [42, 43]. As teriparatide is expensive, its use at the moment should be

limited to patients with more severe forms of osteoporosis, usually with the presence or history of one or more fractures, because those patients are at high risk for subsequent fractures. We used teriparatide to treat new-onset pentoxifylline adjacent VCFs after vertebroplasty and had good therapeutic pain relief and fracture prevention. Teriparatide is generally well tolerated, and treatment compliance rates are favorable. However, current limitations on the length of treatment and the high acquisition cost mean that teriparatide is best reserved for the treatment of patients with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture, or for patients with osteoporosis that have unsatisfactory responses to or intolerance of other osteoporosis therapies [38]. The limitations of the present study include the patient selection criteria. Some conditions, including degenerative lumbar spine disorder, long-term systemic disease, and previous leg fracture could affect the outcome of VCF treatment. Some patients in Taiwan seek out herbal medicines or folk remedies for back pain or other diseases, and some of these folk prescriptions include steroid, which can impact the therapeutic effect. Sometimes, patients suffering from a second VCF will seek out treatment in other hospitals.