The Efficacy of Nasal Calcitonin on The Treatment of Osteoporosis in Male Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Preliminary Study - Original Investigation

Aim: Osteoporosis is a prominent feature of advanced ankylosing spondylitis and causes decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), disturbance of bone formation and resorption and incerase in incidence of vertebral fractures. It is believed that patients with AS have an increased susceptibility to vertebral fractures due to secondary diffuse osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nasal calcitonin in male AS patients with osteoporosis. Patients and Methods: Thirty-two patients with AS were enrolled to our study. Nasal calcitonin 200 IU daily was given for one year to eleven patients with AS who had osteoporosis according to the The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The primary outcome measure was determined as the percentage of change in BMD o f lateral lumbar spine. Results: Although not statistically significant, at the end of calcitonin therapy for twelve months, increase in the mean lumbar spine BMD values of osteoporotic patients was observed. No new vertebral fracture was observed in one year. Calcitonin was well tolerated and no adverse event was reported. Conclusion: As our study group was small to confirm these preliminary findings, larger studies examining the effects of different antiresorptive agents are required for determination of the appropriate treatment of osteoporosis in this chronic condition. (From the World of Osteoporosis 2007;13:67-9