[Osteoporosis: diagnosis, prevention and treatment]

The paper describes prevalence, mechanisms of development, clinical features of osteoporosis, its complications and the principles of treatment. It includes an overview of the universally accepted diagnostic methods and criteria and discusses the diagnostic value of laboratory and instrumental investigations. The significance of radiological methods of the diagnosis is emphasized with regard to the problems related to differential diagnosis and appropriate evaluation of the risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures. Contemporary methods of both, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, depending on the bone mineral density and risk factors for osteoporosis, are presented. Possible problems of tolerance and common adverse drug reactions are discussed.