[Effects of alfacalcidol (1 alpha-OH-D3) on post oophorectomy osteopenia as measured by microdensitometry]

The present study included 24 relatively young patients (48.4 years on average) who had decreased bone mineral levels after oophorectomy (severity scores of 4 or above as judged by the MD method), and the efficacy of active vitamin D3 (D3) was assessed according to the mean percentage of change in MD indices. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 12 cases each, the D3-treated group and the non-treated group. The D3 treatment was given in the form of 1 microgram/day alfacalcidol for 9.67 months on average. Before and after treatment, the MD indices and serum Al-p, calcium and potassium were measured. The non-treated group was observed for 9.92 months on average, and the same parameters were measured before and after the observation period. There were no significant intergroup differences with regard to age, height, body weight, duration after oophorectomy, severity of decreased bone mineral levels and other background factors. In the treated group, MCI and d tended to increase and to decrease, respectively, GSmin and sigma GS/D also tended to increase and GSmax tended to increase (p less than 0.10). In the non-treated group, MCI decreased and d tended to increase, GSmin and GSmax tended to decrease, and sigma GS/D decreased (p less than 0.05). In the intergroup comparison, GSmax increased in the treated group (p less than 0.05) and sigma GS/D also tended to increase more in the treated group (p less than 0.10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)