Interní Med. 2015; 17(2): 87-90

The place of strontium ranelate in treating osteoporosis

prof.MUDr.Pavel Horák, CSc., MUDr.Martina Skácelová

III. interní klinika &ndash, nefrologická, revmatologická a endokrinologická FN a LF UP Olomouc

Strontium ranelate is an agent used for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women and of male osteoporosis. Preclinical

data suggest its dual action consisting in inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation. Strontium ranelate administration

leads to a significant increase in bone mass. Changes in the bone density can be used to evaluate the adherence of patients and, in the

case of strontium ranelate, to obtain a relatively accurate estimation of the reduction in fracture risk. Clinical studies have shown its effect

on reducing the risk of both vertebral and non-vertebral fractures, including proximal femoral fractures. Currently, strontium ranelate

is a second-line drug in the treatment of osteoporosis administered in the case of failure of, intolerance to, or contraindication to other

drugs. Recently, its cardiovascular safety has been debated. The contraindications to its administration in patients with ischaemic heart

disease or lower limb ischaemia and stroke were added to the 2013 version of product information. However, cohort and observational

studies so far have failed to provide an unequivocal confirmation of the cardiovascular risk associated with its administration. It still

remains a drug with a favourable risk-effect ratio, intended for osteoporosis treatment.

Keywords: osteoporosis, treatment, strontium ranelate, efficacy, safety

Published: April 10, 2015  Show citation