[Bisphosphonates in pharmacotherapy of bone diseases].

Bisphosphonates represent a new class of drugs that has been developed in the past three decades for the treatment of various bone diseases and calcium metabolism disorders. Possessing high affinity to the bone-forming minerals, these substances can be used as inhibitors of the ectopic calcification and bone resorption. Bisphosphonates not only prevent from the loss of bones in the case of osteoporosis of various types (e.g., after the menopause), but provide for an increase in the bone mineral density as well. Therefore, these drugs offer an important additional means of therapy in cases of osteoporosis and other bone disorders.