Drop the densitometry

Monitoring bone mineral density in postmenopausal women taking bisphosphonates is unnecessary, potentially misleading and therefore best avoided, Australian researchers say. Professor Les Irwig and colleagues from the Screening and Test Evaluation Program at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney said their findings support a recommendation against routine monitoring in the first three years after potent bisphosphonate therapy is started. Australian guidelines recommend at least two-yearly DEXA assessment of bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. The research, published online first in the BMJ, analysed data from the Fracture Intervention Trial that included more than 6,000 postmenopausal women treated with alendronate or placebo for three years....