Received 16 November 2009; received in revised form 14 December 2009; accepted 14 December 2009.
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease with serious clinical consequences because of fractures. Despite the availability of clinical tools to diagnose osteoporosis and assess fracture risk, and drugs proven to reduce fracture risk, it remains a disease that is underdiagnosed and undertreated. When treatment is started, it is commonly not taken correctly or long enough to be effective. Recent advances in understanding of the regulators and mediators of bone remodeling have led to new therapeutic targets and the development of drugs that may offer advantages over current agents in reducing the burden of osteoporotic fractures. Many genetic factors that play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease have now been identified. At the 2009 Santa Fe Bone Symposium, held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, the links between advances in genetics, basic bone science, recent clinical trials, and new and emerging therapeutic agents were presented and explored. Socioeconomic challenges and opportunities in the care of osteoporosis were discussed. This is a collection of medical essays based on key presentations at the 2009 Santa Fe Bone Symposium.
1New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
2Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NYC, NY, USA
3Arthritis and Osteoporosis Consultants of the Carolinas, Charlotte, NC, USA
4Colorado Center for Bone Research, Lakewood, CO, USA
5Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
6The Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
7Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Address correspondence to: E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, FACE, New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, 300 Oak St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
ABSTRACT