[Double-blind study on the efficacy of long-term intermittent nasal elcatonin in recent postmenopausal women].

FUNDAMENTALS: Continuous treatment with calcitonin (CT) has caused an increase of bone mineral density for the first 18 months, followed by a partial decrease of it. In order to obtain a better result in a two year follow-up, it is proposed a schedule treatment during 50% to 66% of the time in recent postmenopausal women. METHODS: Pilot, double-blind, randomised, two years follow-up study. 60 women with osteopenia less than 5 years from menopause received 40 U of intranasal elcatonin (ELC) or placebo (PL) 2 months ON, one month OFF. Compliance, safety, pain and the degree of incapacity were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months. At the start and every six months lumbar and femoral BMD were assessed with DXA. RESULTS: 41 patients completed the study (21 ELC and 20 PL). There were no basal differences. The treatment was actually used during 59% of the follow-up time in the ELC group and during 58% of the time in the PL group. Basal T-scores were -2.29 SD in the PL group and -2.42 SD in the ELC group. Bone densitometry showed an increase of BMD in the group of patients treated with ELC up to 18 months (lumbar and femoral) but a loss in those patients that received PL. CONCLUSION: 40 U of nasal elcatonin for more than 50% of the observation time prevents in the long-term (2 years) the progressive loss of bone mineral density in recent postmenopausal women.