TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of testosterone, alendronate, and a combination of both therapies in men with low bone mineral density
AU - Welch, Brian J.
AU - Denke, Margo A.
AU - Kermani, Asra
AU - Adams-Huet, Beverley
AU - Gazmen, Nina M.
AU - Gruntmanis, Ugis
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Background: Both bisphosphonates and testosterone are known to improve bone mineral density (BMD) in men with low bone mass, but whether combination therapy is superior to these agents used alone is not clear. We compared the changes in lumbar spine BMD when men with low bone mass were treated with each agent alone or as combination therapy. Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed serum and BMD data from 149 men who had been evaluated in the Endocrinology Clinic at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. The subjects were divided into three cohorts: 59 men receiving testosterone therapy alone, 68 men receiving alendronate therapy alone, and 22 receiving combination therapy. Results: Compared with the baseline values, the lumbar spine and BMD increased significantly in each of the testosterone, alendronate, and combination therapy cohorts (median annualized rate of change: 2.1% [p < .001], 2.6% [p < .001], and 2.5% [p = .04], respectively). The combination therapy group did not demonstrate any additional increase in BMD at the lumbar spine or total hip compared with either agent alone. The results did not change after adjusting for differences in baseline weight, age, BMD, or baseline testosterone level. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combination of testosterone and alendronate does not appear to be superior to single-drug therapy in our patient population.
AB - Background: Both bisphosphonates and testosterone are known to improve bone mineral density (BMD) in men with low bone mass, but whether combination therapy is superior to these agents used alone is not clear. We compared the changes in lumbar spine BMD when men with low bone mass were treated with each agent alone or as combination therapy. Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed serum and BMD data from 149 men who had been evaluated in the Endocrinology Clinic at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. The subjects were divided into three cohorts: 59 men receiving testosterone therapy alone, 68 men receiving alendronate therapy alone, and 22 receiving combination therapy. Results: Compared with the baseline values, the lumbar spine and BMD increased significantly in each of the testosterone, alendronate, and combination therapy cohorts (median annualized rate of change: 2.1% [p < .001], 2.6% [p < .001], and 2.5% [p = .04], respectively). The combination therapy group did not demonstrate any additional increase in BMD at the lumbar spine or total hip compared with either agent alone. The results did not change after adjusting for differences in baseline weight, age, BMD, or baseline testosterone level. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combination of testosterone and alendronate does not appear to be superior to single-drug therapy in our patient population.
KW - Alendronate
KW - Bone density
KW - Testosterone
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U2 - 10.2310/6650.2007.06047
DO - 10.2310/6650.2007.06047
M3 - Article
C2 - 17651670
AN - SCOPUS:34848821254
SN - 1708-8267
VL - 55
SP - 168
EP - 173
JO - Journal of Investigative Medicine
JF - Journal of Investigative Medicine
IS - 4
ER -