Long-term effects of raloxifene on bone mineral density, bone turnover, and serum lipid levels in early postmenopausal women: three-year data from 2 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: In postmenopausal women, raloxifene hydrochloride has favorable effects on bone and lipid metabolism and does not stimulate reproductive tissues. The studies reported herein evaluated the long-term (3-year) effects of raloxifene treatment on bone mineral density (BMD), serum lipid levels, and drug tolerability in healthy postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 1145 healthy European and North American postmenopausal women aged 45 through 60 years were enrolled in 2 parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of identical design and randomly assigned to receive raloxifene hydrochloride, 30, 60, or 150 mg, or placebo daily; all groups received 400 to 600 mg of elemental calcium. Assessments included measurements for BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, markers of bone turnover, and serum lipid levels. RESULTS: Lumbar spine BMD changed from baseline to 36 months as follows: placebo (mean percentage change + SE), -1. 32% +0.22%; raloxifene, 30 mg, 0.71% +0.23%; raloxifene, 60 mg, 1. 28% +0.23%; and raloxifene, 150 mg, 1.20% +0.24%. Comparable BMD changes were observed in the hip and total body. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were suppressed by raloxifene to normal premenopausal ranges through 3 years. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was reduced 7% to 12% below baseline through 3 years. Study withdrawals due to any reason (37%) and withdrawals due to adverse events (14%) were not different among groups. The only significant adverse effect of therapy was hot flashes (25% in the 60-mg raloxifene group vs 18% in the placebo group); hot flashes were typically reported as mild and were not associated with study withdrawal (1.7% for 60-mg raloxifene vs 2.4% for placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Raloxifene preserves BMD at important skeletal sites, lowers serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and has a tolerability profile comparable to placebo. These results indicate a favorable benefit-risk profile of raloxifene for long-term use in healthy postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3444-3450.

Raloxifene: a new choice for treating and preventing osteoporosis.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are a new class of drugs that provide a new option for addressing the health challenges of postmenopausal women. This review discusses the proposed mechanism of action of SERMs and describes clinical findings on raloxifene, a SERM now available for treating and preventing osteoporosis.

Treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone density with raloxifene. Raloxifene Study Group.

Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has been shown to improved bone mineral density (BMD) and serum lipid profiles in healthy postmenopausal women. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of raloxifene on BMD, biochemical markers of bone metabolism and serum lipids in postmenopausal women with low bone density or osteoporosis. This Phase II, multicenter, 24-month, double-masked study assessed the efficacy and safety of raloxifene in 129 postmenopausal women (mean age +/- SD: 60.2 +/- 6.7 years) with osteoporosis or low bone density (baseline mean lumbar spine BMD T-score: -2.8). Women were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: placebo, 60 mg/day raloxifene-HCl (RLX 60) or 150 mg/day raloxifene-HCL (RLX 150) and concomitantly received 1000 mg/day calcium and 300 U/day vitamin D3. At 24 months, BMD was significantly increased in the lumbar spine (+3.2%), femoral neck (+2.1%), trochanter (+2.7%) and total hip (+1.6%) in the RLX 60 group compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). The RLX 150 group had increases in BMD similar to those observed with RLX 60. A greater percentage of raloxifene-treated patients, compared with those receiving placebo, had increased BMD (p < 0.05). Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity, serum osteocalcin, and urinary type I collagen:creatinine ratio were significantly decreased in the RLX-treated groups, compared with the placebo group (p < 0.01). RLX 60 treatment significantly decreased serum levels of triglycerides, and total- and LDL-cholesterol levels (p < 0.01). The rates of patient discontinuation and adverse events were not significantly different among groups. In this study, raloxifene increased bone density, decreased bone turnover, and improved the serum lipid profile with minimal adverse events, and may be a safe and effective treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone density.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators and postmenopausal women's health.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators represent an alternative approach to the use of estrogen replacement therapy or hormone replacement therapy for decreasing postmenopausal bone loss, as well as for reducing the incidence of serious cardiovascular disease in this population. Of particular interest is raloxifene, a benzothiophene compound, which binds with high affinity to the estrogen receptor and produces effects similar to estrogen on the skeleton and cardiovascular system but behaves as a complete estrogen antagonist in the uterus and the breast. The pharmacologic profile of raloxifene, a discussion of a possible mechanism of action, and the potential role of this drug in women's postmenopausal health are the subjects of this review.

Raloxifene and estrogen: comparative bone-remodeling kinetics.

The pattern of changes in human bone remodeling produced by raloxifene (60 mg/day) was compared to that of estrogen (given as hormone replacement therapy) in 33 early postmenopausal women randomly assigned to raloxifene, estrogen, or no treatment. Remodeling was measured using calcium tracer kinetic methods employed under a constant diet and full metabolic balance conditions. Studies were performed at baseline and, to detect both early and late remodeling changes, at 4 and 31 weeks of treatment. Both raloxifene and estrogen produced a significant positive calcium balance shift at each treatment measurement point: +74 and +60 mg/day at 4 weeks, and +60 and +91 mg/day at 31 weeks for raloxifene and estrogen, respectively. Externally, this balance change was due to a highly significant fall in the urinary calcium level and marginal improvement in calcium absorption efficiency. Internally, bone resorption was significantly reduced at both measurement points: -64 and -60 mg/day at 4 weeks, and -82 and -162 mg/day at 31 weeks for raloxifene and estrogen, respectively. Bone formation was not significantly affected by either agent at 4 weeks; at 31 weeks, formation was reduced by estrogen, but not by raloxifene. Thus, at 4 weeks, the general pattern of remodeling change was identical for the two agents. At 31 weeks, remodeling suppression was greater for estrogen than for raloxifene; however, remodeling balance was the same for the two agents. We conclude that raloxifene and estrogen affect the bone remodeling apparatus similarly, and that raloxifene, therefore, is acting on bone as an estrogen agonist.

Effects of raloxifene hydrochloride on the endometrium of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated subtle endometrial morphologic changes in postmenopausal women assigned to placebo, raloxifene hydrochloride 200 or 600 mg/day, or conjugated estrogens (Premarin 0.625 mg/day) according to a new estrogenicity scoring system. Raloxifene, a new selective estrogen receptor modulator, was not expected to stimulate the endometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Baseline and end point endometrial biopsies were performed during this double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week study. A scoring system that was based on standard glandular and stromal morphologic criteria was used to quantitate estrogen-induced effects. Baseline, end point, and baseline-to-end point changes were analyzed for treatment differences. RESULTS: Treatment groups were similar at baseline with most women showing no estrogenic effects. At end point, statistically significant moderate and marked estrogenic effects were noted in 77% of estrogen-treated women versus 15% of placebo-treated women versus 0% of raloxifene-treated women. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, estrogen treatment stimulated postmenopausal endometrium. In contrast, raloxifene did not induce histopathologic evidence of endometrial stimulation in healthy postmenopausal women.

A controlled trial of raloxifene (LY139481) HCl: impact on bone turnover and serum lipid profile in healthy postmenopausal women.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, 8-week study evaluated short-term effects of raloxifene on bone turnover, serum lipids, and endometrium in healthy, postmenopausal women. A total of 251 women received either placebo, raloxifene HCl 200 or 600 mg/day, or conjugated estrogens (Premarin, 0.625 mg/day). Bone turnover (serum alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, urinary pyridinoline cross-links, urinary calcium excretion, urinary hydroxyproline) and serum lipids (total serum cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C and LDL-C]) were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 8. Endometrial biopsies were performed at weeks 0 and 8. Treatment groups were compared for each parameter for baseline-to-endpoint changes. The estrogen and raloxifene groups experienced similar decreases in serum alkaline phosphatase (range 10-11%), serum osteocalcin (range 21-26%), urinary pyridinoline cross-links (range 20-26%), and urinary calcium excretion (range 45-72%). These decreases differed significantly compared with placebo-treated subjects for all markers except serum osteocalcin, the raloxifene HCl 200 mg group. LDL-C decreased significantly in the estrogen and both raloxifene groups (range 5-9%) compared with placebo-treated subjects. HDL-C increased significantly in the estrogen group (16%) but was unchanged in the raloxifene groups. HDL-C:LDL-C ratios increased significantly in the estrogen and raloxifene groups (range 9-29%). Serum cholesterol decreased significantly in both raloxifene groups (range 4-8%) but was unchanged in the estrogen group. Uterine biopsies of raloxifene-treated subjects showed no change in the endometrium during this short-term treatment. Biopsies of the estrogen group showed significant endometrial stimulation. The only adverse event possibly related to raloxifene was vasodilatation (hot flashes) which was most common in the raloxifene HCl 600 mg group. Study results indicate that raloxifene may provide beneficial effects to bone and serum lipids in humans without uterine stimulatory effects.

Antiestrogenic properties of raloxifene.

This 21-day, open-label study evaluated the effects of raloxifene and tamoxifen on estrogen-induced changes in serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones (prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone), sex steroids (testosterone, estradiol), and binding globulins [thyroid binding globulin (T3 resin uptake), transcortin, sex steroid binding globulin]. Seventeen healthy male volunteers completed the study after being randomized to one of three treatments: raloxifene, tamoxifen, or placebo. Six subjects received raloxifene (200 mg daily) for 10 days, 6 subjects received tamoxifen [20 mg twice a day (b.i.d.)] for 10 days, and 5 subjects received placebo for 10 days. All subjects received ethinyl estradiol (20 micrograms b.i.d.) for 7 days starting 3 days after initiation of study drug or placebo treatment. Results of the primary analysis of this study indicate that for six of the seven analyzable parameters of estrogen action (excluding luteinizing hormone) raloxifene blunted the estrogen response; this effect was significant only for T3 resin uptake. Tamoxifen administration significantly blunted or reversed the estrogen effect in all six of these parameters. Raloxifene, an effective antiestrogen in animal models, is also antiestrogenic in humans.

Approaching final height in children treated for growth hormone deficiency.

This brief report is a preliminary review of the interpretation of 'final height' in a large study of children, some of whom have been treated with recombinant human growth hormone for as long as 8 years. Most of the children in this study have not attained final height, so we highlight the issues relating to the definition of final height, study completion and diagnosis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and gynaecomastia during growth hormone treatment of elderly men with low circulating IGF-I concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the relationship between plasma level of insulin-like growth hormone I (IGF-I), changes in lean body mass and in adipose mass, and adverse side-effects during human growth hormone (hGH) treatment of elderly men who had low IGF-I levels. DESIGN: The first six months was a period of baseline observation. The subjects were then randomized into two groups so that during months 7-18, men in group I received hGH, and men in group II served as untreated controls. SUBJECTS: Eighty-three overtly healthy elderly men, who were selected because their plasma IGF-I level was less than 0.35 units/ml. The men were randomly assigned in a ratio of three to one into group I (n = 62) or into group II (n = 21). MEASUREMENTS: Plasma IGF-I level was measured monthly. Lean body mass and adipose mass were measured every six months. RESULTS: Fifteen men left the study during the baseline period because of personal reasons or intercurrent medical events. In those who received drug (group I), there were a number of adverse reactions which could have been related to the hGH therapy: carpal tunnel syndrome 10, gynaecomastia 4, and hyperglycaemia 3. In total there were 27 dropouts from group I and two dropouts from group II after the six-month point, for a variety of medical and non-medical reasons, the majority probably not related to hGH therapy. During the hGH treatment of group I, plasma IGF-I increased from the range 0.10-0.35 units/ml into the range 0.5-2.2 units/ml. Among the 18 men who completed 12 months of hGH treatment without experiencing one of the three above-noted presumed hGH side-effects, mean and peak plasma IGF-I during treatment were significantly lower than among the 13 men who experienced carpal tunnel syndrome or gynaecomastia (one subject had both) while on hGH. With one exception, neither carpal tunnel syndrome nor gynaecomastia occurred in any individual with a mean IGF-I level less than 1.0 units/ml during hGH treatment. Twelve months of hGH treatment (group I) caused an increase in lean body mass to 106% of the initial baseline (month one of the protocol), and a reduction in adipose mass to 84% of the baseline. Meanwhile, the lean body mass of the untreated men in group II declined to 97% of the initial baseline. The body composition responses after 12 months of treatment in group I were larger in the men whose mean intra-treatment IGF-I level was 0.5-1.0 units/ml, than in the men whose mean intra-treatment IGF-I level was 1.0-1.5 units/ml. CONCLUSIONS: These observations show that when elderly men with low circulating IGF-I concentrations are treated continuously with hGH, elevation of plasma IGF-I above 1.0 units/ml is associated with a substantial frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome or gynaecomastia. It may be that the effects of the hormone in expanding lean body mass and reducing adipose mass can be achieved, and the side-effects avoided, by maintaining the mean IGF-I level in the range 0.5-1.0 units/ml.

Effects of human growth hormone on body composition in elderly men.

Body composition changes progressively in mid and late adulthood. Lean body mass in men over 50 years old contracts at an average rate of -0.6% per year. Body weight tends to remain stable because of a reciprocal expansion of adipose mass. The shrinkage of the lean body mass reflects the atrophy of skeletal muscles, skin and visceral organs. Because growth hormone causes expansion of the lean body mass and contraction of the adipose mass, and because growth hormone secretion tends to diminish in late adulthood, it has been postulated that geriatric hyposomatotropism is a contributory cause to the body composition changes described above. The authors have tested this hypothesis by recruiting 45 independent men over 61 years old with plasma somatomedin C level below 0.35 U/ml, indicating little or no detectable growth hormone secretion. The 21-month protocol was as follows: baseline period 0-6 months, experimental period 6-18 months and post-experimental period 18-21 months. During the experimental period, 26 men (group I) received approximately 0.03 mg/kg of biosynthetic human growth hormone (hGH) subcutaneously 3 times a week, while 19 men (group II) received no treatment. Plasma somatomedin C was measured monthly. The following outcome variables were measured at 0, 6, 12 and 18 months: lean body mass, adipose mass, skin thickness (dermis plus epidermis), sizes of the liver, spleen and kidneys, the cross sectional areas of ten muscle groups, and bone density at 9 skeletal sites. Lean body mass and adipose mass were also measured at 21 months. In group I, hGH treatment raised the plasma somatomedin C level and maintained it in the range 0.5-1.5 U/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biosynthetic human growth hormone in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.

A total of 309 previously untreated children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) (219 boys, 90 girls; mean age 8.4 +/- 3.9 years, range 1.5-19 years) were treated for up to 3 years in an ongoing trial designed to examine the long-term efficacy and safety of biosynthetic somatropin (rhGH). The children were treated with rhGH, 0.06 mg/kg (0.16 IU/kg) three times weekly. In the prepubertal children, the mean height velocity increased during the first year from 3.8 +/- 1.8 cm/year to 8.9 +/- 2.2 cm/year (n = 188). During the second and third years, their height velocities were 7.1 +/- 1.1 (n = 147) and 6.3 +/- 1.2 cm/year (n = 64), respectively. The height velocity SDS increased from -2.5 +/- 1.9 before treatment to 3.1 +/- 2.6 during the first year of treatment in the prepubertal children. The mean pretreatment height velocity in those with idiopathic GHD (3.8 +/- 1.6 cm/year) did not differ from that in children with organic GHD (3.8 +/- 2.3 cm/year). In addition, the height velocities during the first year of therapy did not differ significantly with respect to the aetiology of GHD. For the children who entered puberty during the study, the mean height velocity increased from 3.0 +/- 1.7 cm/year before treatment to 8.4 +/- 2.3 cm/year during the first year of rhGH therapy. In the first year, the height velocity of children with a bone age of less than 5 years (9.4 +/- 2.3 cm/year) was significantly greater than that in children with a bone age of 5-10 years (8.4 +/- 1.8 cm/year) or greater than 10 years (7.8 +/- 2.2 cm/year: p = 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Functional mediastinal parathyroid cyst. Dynamics of parathyroid hormone secretion during cyst aspirations and surgery.

A patient presented with a large neck mass, hypercalcemia, and elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels. Aspiration of the cystic mass yielded 100 ml of fluid that contained a low concentration of thyroxine, but large amounts of parathyroid hormone, as measured by bioassay or with three different radioimmunoassays. After each of four aspirations, the serum calcium level declined significantly. Serial measurements showed that serum amino-terminal and mid-region parathyroid hormone levels and urinary cyclic adenosine monophosphate values declined after aspiration. Surgical resection of the cervical-mediastinal cyst restored normal serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, and these have been maintained for nine months. Calculations suggest that parathyroid hormone traversing the cyst lumen might contribute significantly to the excess circulating parathyroid hormone.

Photoaffinity labeling of the canine renal receptor for parathyroid hormone.

Studies were undertaken to identify and characterize components of the parathyroid hormone receptor. An analog of the bovine parathyroid hormone(1-34) sequence was derivatized at the 23-tryptophan position with the photoreactive reagent 2-nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl chloride. 2-Nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl-bovine parathyroid hormone (NAPS-bPTH) analog retained full biological activity with respect to receptor binding and activation of adenylate cyclase in canine renal cortical plasma membranes. 125I-bPTH(1-34) analog was also derivatized without loss of receptor-binding activity. When 125I-NAPS-bPTH(1-34) analog was incubated with canine renal plasma membranes and then photolyzed, at least two 125I-labeled membrane components were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The incorporation of 125I radioactivity into one of these components (Mr congruent to 60,000) was inhibited when incubation and photolysis were performed in the presence of excess, unlabeled bPTH(1-34). Furthermore, photolysis of membranes in the presence of NAPS-bPTH(1-34) analog led to activation of adenylate cyclase which persisted following washing to remove noncovalently bound peptide, suggesting a functional, covalent hormone-receptor complex had been formed. We conclude that the M r congruent to 60,000 membrane component may be a part of the renal receptor for parathyroid hormone.