JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) today released revised medical guidelines for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in the November/December issue of "Endocrine Practice."
The "Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Prevention and Management of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis 2003 Revisions" were published in part due to recently available information, including the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of teriparatide (recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34)) to treat certain patients with osteoporosis. Patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis or hypogonadal osteoporosis, who are at high-risk for fracture or who have failed or are intolerant to previous osteoporosis therapy, are candidates for teriparatide.
The guidelines also address the use of estrogen and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in the treatment of osteoporosis. AACE guidelines recommend against prescribing MHT to asymptomatic women to prevent and treat osteoporosis or for other possible benefits unless such benefits have been established in prospective controlled studies.
"The guidelines are designed to achieve the highest quality of life possible for individual patients by using the most effective and efficient methods of diagnosis and management of osteoporosis," stated Nelson B. Watts, MD, FACE, co-chair of the AACE Osteoporosis Task Force. "New advances in the field require that we review the medical guidelines every few years."
"The guidelines will help physicians and their patients make good decisions about skeletal health and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women," commented Stephen F. Hodgson, MD, MACE, co-chair of the AACE Osteoporosis Task Force. "The guidelines also reinforce the importance of the role of an endocrinologist in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis."
The AACE Medical Guidelines on Osteoporosis can be found at http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines.
AACE is a professional medical organization with approximately 4,500 members in the United States and over 70 other countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine disorders. AACE initiatives inform the public about endocrine diseases. AACE also conducts continuing education programs for clinical endocrinologists, physicians whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in the care of endocrine disease, such as osteoporosis, hormone therapy, diabetes, thyroid disorders, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity.
American Association of Clinical EndocrinologistsCONTACT: Sissy Crabtree, ext. 22, or Sarah Bradley, ext. 36, both ofAmerican Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, +1-904-353-7878
Web site: http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines