Effects of teriparatide versus alendronate for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: thirty-six-month results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Saag KG, Zanchetta JR, Devogelaer JP, Adler RA, Eastell R, See K, Krege JH, Krohn K, Warner MR

Arthritis and rheumatism1 Nov 2009Cited by 298 (Europe PMC)

PMID19877063DOI10.1002/art.24879PepBankPUB-19877063

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, lumbar spine BMD increased more with teriparatide than alendronate (11.0% versus 5.3%).
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased spine bone density more than alendronate in people with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseLumbar spine BMD
Study
n = 428
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Lumbar spine BMD increase
11%
Teriparatide, 36 months
Lumbar spine BMD increase
5.3%
Alendronate, 36 months
Source sentences
Summary
Increases in BMD from baseline were significantly greater in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group, and at 36 months were 11.0% versus 5.3% for lumbar spine, 5.2% versus 2.7% for total hip, and 6.3% versus 3.4% for femoral neck (P < 0.001 for all).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706301
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, total hip BMD increased more with teriparatide than alendronate (5.2% versus 2.7%).
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased total hip bone density more than alendronate.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseTotal hip BMD
Study
n = 428
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Total hip BMD increase
5.2%
Teriparatide, 36 months
Total hip BMD increase
2.7%
Alendronate, 36 months
Source sentences
Summary
Increases in BMD from baseline were significantly greater in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group, and at 36 months were 11.0% versus 5.3% for lumbar spine, 5.2% versus 2.7% for total hip, and 6.3% versus 3.4% for femoral neck (P < 0.001 for all).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706302
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, femoral neck BMD increased more with teriparatide than alendronate (6.3% versus 3.4%).
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased femoral neck bone density more than alendronate.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseFemoral neck BMD
Study
n = 428
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Femoral neck BMD increase
6.3%
Teriparatide, 36 months
Femoral neck BMD increase
3.4%
Alendronate, 36 months
Source sentences
Summary
Increases in BMD from baseline were significantly greater in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group, and at 36 months were 11.0% versus 5.3% for lumbar spine, 5.2% versus 2.7% for total hip, and 6.3% versus 3.4% for femoral neck (P < 0.001 for all).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706303
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, nonvertebral fracture incidence did not differ significantly between teriparatide and alendronate.
In plain wordsNonvertebral fracture rates did not differ significantly between teriparatide and alendronate.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
No significant changeNonvertebral fractures
Study
n = 428
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Subjects with nonvertebral fractures
16 subjects
Teriparatide
Nonvertebral fracture incidence
7.5%
Teriparatide
Subjects with nonvertebral fractures
15 subjects
Alendronate
Nonvertebral fracture incidence
7%
Alendronate
Source sentences
Summary
There was no significant difference between groups in the incidence of nonvertebral fractures (16 [7.5%] of 214 subjects taking teriparatide versus 15 [7.0%] of 214 subjects taking alendronate; P = 0.843).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706308
05HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, elevated predose calcium occurred in 21% with teriparatide versus 7% with alendronate.
In plain wordsElevated predose calcium was more common with teriparatide than alendronate.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseElevated predose serum calcium
Study
n = 428
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Adverse events · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Subjects with elevated predose serum calcium
21%
Teriparatide
Subjects with elevated predose serum calcium
7%
Alendronate
Source sentences
Summary
More subjects in the teriparatide group (21%) versus the alendronate group (7%) had elevated predose serum calcium concentrations (P < 0.001).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706309
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, vertebral fractures affected 3 of 173 teriparatide recipients versus 13 of 169 alendronate recipients.
In plain wordsFewer people had vertebral fractures with teriparatide than alendronate.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
DecreaseVertebral fractures
Study
n = 342
Comparator
Alendronate
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Subjects with vertebral fractures
3 subjects
Teriparatide
Vertebral fracture incidence
1.7%
Teriparatide
Subjects with vertebral fractures
13 subjects
Alendronate
Vertebral fracture incidence
7.7%
Alendronate
Source sentences
Summary
Fewer subjects had vertebral fractures in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group (3 [1.7%] of 173 versus 13 [7.7%] of 169; P = 0.007), with most occurring during the first 18 months.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706307
07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, teriparatide significantly increased PINP from baseline from 1 to 36 months.
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased the bone marker PINP compared with baseline.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreasePINP
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the teriparatide group, median percent increases from baseline in N-terminal type I procollagen propeptide (PINP) and osteocalcin (OC) levels were significant from 1 to 36 months (P < 0.01), and increases in levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were significant from 1 to 6 months (P < 0.01).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706304
08HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, teriparatide significantly increased osteocalcin from baseline from 1 to 36 months.
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased osteocalcin compared with baseline.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseOsteocalcin
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the teriparatide group, median percent increases from baseline in N-terminal type I procollagen propeptide (PINP) and osteocalcin (OC) levels were significant from 1 to 36 months (P < 0.01), and increases in levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were significant from 1 to 6 months (P < 0.01).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706305
09HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, teriparatide significantly increased CTX from baseline from 1 to 6 months.
In plain wordsTeriparatide increased the bone marker CTX compared with baseline.
Peptide
Teriparatide (PTH 1-34)
Outcome
IncreaseCTX
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Bone and joint · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
20 microg/day · 36 monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the teriparatide group, median percent increases from baseline in N-terminal type I procollagen propeptide (PINP) and osteocalcin (OC) levels were significant from 1 to 36 months (P < 0.01), and increases in levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were significant from 1 to 6 months (P < 0.01).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This was a 36-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 428 subjects with OP (ages 22-89 years) who had received > or =5 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for > or =3 months preceding screening.
Report a problemFND-1987706306

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Version 2Current
22 Oct 2026, 02:26 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
21 Oct 2026, 18:59 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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Effects of teriparatide versus alendronate for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: thirty-six-month results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Summary

Results from this study9

Version history

Subjects

Publication types

MeSH terms