[Treatment of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and steroid-induced osteoporosis with the preparation Rocaltrol (1,25/OH/2 vitamin D3)].

A clinical trial of the drug "Rocaltrol" was carried out on 16 patients with osteoporosis, II of them with menopause osteoporosis and 5 with steroid-induced osteoporosis. The mean age of the patients was 53.1 +/- 11.1 years. The mean daily dose of the drug was 0.46 +/- 0.08 mg/24h. The treatment lasted 6 months. All patients showed improvement of the general condition and of calcium balance. Reliable increase of the total calcium and phosphorus levels and of the 24-hour calcium urine excretion were established, the maximal values being at the end of the third month. The X-ray examination showed stabilization of the bone changes and lack of new compression fractures. It is supposed that the drug improves the intestinal resorption of calcium and phosphorus and suppresses the bone resorption. This is proved by the reliable decrease of serum alkaline phosphatase level after the 6 month treatment. In all patients clinical improvement was established with diminishing of the bone aches and retaining the body height before and after the treatment.