| Abstrakt: |
Background: Increasing numbers of premenopausal, perimenopausal, and early post-menopausal women are being diagnosed with low bone mineral density using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. However, there is a lack of evidence on the application of these criteria in premenopausal and perimenopausal women, and no consensus of the management of osteopenia in these women. Management poses a dilemma for women and their health care practitioners, compounded by the long wait required between repeat bone density measurements. Markers of bone resorption have the potential to assist with management decision making by identifying treatment responders, and those women with unusually high bone resorption rates. Purpose: A pilot study was completed to evaluate whether the use of urinary markers of bone resorption would help determine whether individual management strategies were effective. Method: A volunteer sample of convenience of 5 women, premenopausal or less than 6 years after menopause, who had been identified as having low bone mass using WHO criteria was recruited to participate in this project. They began a 6-month resistance exercise program with measurement of urinary resorption markers at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months, while continuing with other lifestyle or pharmacologic management. Results: The markers were useful in indicating whether the women were responding to their management program of choice. The information allowed these women to feel confident in their intervention choices, or indicated the need for additional intervention. Conclusions: The extra clinical information available to women and their health care practitioners with measurement of bone resorption can assist in planning and evaluating short and medium term management in this population. This encourages individualized management based on treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
