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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Drug Treatment and In Vivo Imaging of Osteoblast-Osteoclast Interactions in a Medaka Fish Osteoporosis Model
Published on: January 1, 2017
[Etidronate for treatment of osteoporosis]
Shogo Asano1, Atsushi Suzuki, Mitsuyasu Itoh
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University.
Abstract:
The treatment with anti-resorptive agents including bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM) has clinical relevance to reduce osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Among them, etidronate has a unique mechanism to suppress osteoclastic activity, and could be used to treat long-term immobilized patients, to whom other bisphosphonates or SERM are not available because of their adverse effects. In addition, intermittent therapy regimen (two weeks every three months) and less gastroesophageal reflux disorder may be suitable for some patients. Etidronate has less and lower clinical evidences than other bisphosphonates and SERM, but still has clinical efficacy and advantage to treat osteoporotic patients.
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