@article {Recker:February 2005:0300-7995:185,
author = "Recker, R.",
author = "Masarachia, P.",
author = "Santora, A.",
author = "Howard, T.",
author = "Chavassieux, P.",
author = "Arlot, M.",
author = "Rodan, G.",
author = "Wehren, L.",
author = "Kimmel, D.",
title = "Trabecular bone microarchitecture after alendronate treatment of osteoporotic women",
journal = "Current Medical Research and Opinion",
volume = "21",
year = "February 2005",
abstract = "Objective: To compare the microarchitecture of iliac crest trabecular bone from women treated for two to three years with alendronate versus that of women treated with placebo.Research design and methods: Three-dimensional microcomputed tomography (micro-CT; resolution 20μm) and two-dimensional histomorphometry (resolution 5–7μm) were used to examine trabecular bone from single transilial biopsies obtained at the completion of clinical trials.Main outcome measures: Microarchitectural variables, including bone volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and trabecular spacing in specimens from alendronate- and placebo-treated women were examined. Three-dimensional images of trabecular bone from both groups were constructed from CT images. Correlations among variables and between techniques were also calculated.Results: Eighty-eight specimens were suitable for evaluation by both techniques. As measured by two-dimensional histomorphometry, bone volume fraction (as a proportion of total volume) and trabecular thickness were significantly greater in alendronate specimens, 17.1 ± 5.5% vs. 13.4 ± 5.5% (p = 0.0043) and 127 ± 29 μm vs. 109 ± 28μm (p = 0.0090), respectively, and trabecular spacing was significantly smaller, 729 ± 227μm vs. 862 ± 338μm (p = 0.005). Micro-CT yielded similar findings: bone volume and trabecular number were significantly greater in alendronate specimens: 19.4 ± 6.2% vs. 16.2 ± 6.3% (p = 0.0412) and 1.46± 0.32 vs. 1.31± 0.33 per mm (p = 0.0346). Two-dimensional and micro-CT measured characteristics correlated strongly with one another, with Pearson product moment correlation coefficients ranging from 0.60 (for trabecular thickness) to 0.83 (for bone volume).Conclusions: Trabecular microarchitecture of the ilium, whether studied by two- or three-dimensional methods, is better (greater bone volume, greater trabecular thickness, decreased trabecular spacing) after alendronate treatment than after two to three years of treatment with placebo. Bone volume in a trabecular region is strongly correlated to its microarchitecture, suggesting that bone quantity predicts values for these microarchitectural endpoints.",
pages = "185-194(10)",
url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/apl/cmro/2005/00000021/00000002/art00002"
doi = "doi:10.1185/030079904X20259"
}