67, 95% CI [0.47; 0.95], p = 0.023; Fig. 2). Among patients in the highest tertile for both b-ALP and sCTX (n = 867), the relative risk reduction with strontium ranelate was 49% (RR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.37; 0.70], p <0.001). The fracture incidences in the strontium ranelate group were comparable, and the magnitude of the treatment
effect was not significantly different between patients in the lowest and highest tertiles for both markers (interaction test p = 0.254). Fig. 2 Incidence of vertebral fractures over 3 years in patients in the lowest (n = 881) LCZ696 cost and highest (n = 867) tertiles for both b-ALP and sCTX. SR strontium ranelate, PL placebo Given the increasing incidence of fractures with increasing bone turnover in patients treated with placebo, the absolute reduction in fracture risk with strontium ranelate was larger for higher tertiles of
bone turnover markers. The number needed to treat (NNT) for 3 years to prevent one first new vertebral fracture ranged from 17 and 14 for the lowest tertiles of b-ALP and sCTX, respectively, to 10 and 9 for the highest tertiles (Table 4). Bone mineral density Lumbar BMD increased progressively during the 3-year analysis period in patients treated with strontium ranelate, but remained virtually unchanged in placebo-treated patients (Fig. 3). The increase in lumbar BMD with strontium ranelate, relative to baseline, at 3 years was 12.5%, 14.6% and 16.5% in b-ALP tertile 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and 12.6%, 13.9% and 16.9% in sCTX tertile 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.001 in all tertiles; Fig. 3). At each yearly time point, significant between-group differences MK5108 price in favour of strontium ranelate were observed in all tertiles (p < 0.001
vs placebo at all time points for all tertiles of both b-ALP and sCTX). Fig. 3 Changes in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) at 12, 24 and 36 months by tertiles Dynein of b-ALP (upper panel) and sCTX (lower panel) and treatment group. SR strontium ranelate, PL placebo Discussion The main result from this analysis is that 3 years of treatment with strontium ranelate produced similar reductions in the risk of vertebral fracture, relative to placebo, in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis, irrespective of their baseline bone turnover level, consistent with our stated hypothesis. Substantial and significant reductions in fracture risk were seen across all tertiles of pre-treatment b-ALP (a marker of bone formation) and all tertiles of sCTX (a marker of bone resorption), and the size of the treatment effect did not differ significantly between tertiles of either biochemical marker. When women who were in the lowest tertile for both b-ALP and sCTX were compared with those in the highest tertile for both markers, significant relative risk reductions were seen in both BTSA1 price groups, with a similar magnitude between the two groups.