[Bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis]

Bisphosphonates are chemical substances which are used in medicine for the diagnosis of bone diseases, for the treatment of bone metastases of various tumours and in recent years also for the treatment of osteoporosis, in particular postmenopausal or corticoid induced osteoporosis. The administration of biphosphonates is based on the idea that ideal treatment of an enhanced bone turnover is creation of a greater bone mass by de novo bone formation with concurrent inhibition of bone absorption (possibility of dismantling the remodelling cycle). This idea of the action of biphosphonates is based on the finding that they reduce the absorption activity of osteoclasts or enhance the osteoforming activity of osteoblasts. Biphosphonates thus create a positive balance of the remodelling cycle, i.e. they increase the density of bone mass and reduce the frequency of fractures. In the submitted paper the authors present a summary of results and possible use of these biphosphonate groups which were used in the treatment of involutional or corticoid induced osteoporosis.