Common Questions
How does teriparatide affect bones?
Teriparatide (hPTH 1-34), a recombinant human parathyroid hormone consisting of the first 34 amino acids in human parathyroid hormone, is an anabolic agent that builds bones. Teriparatide improves bone quality by actions on bone turnover, bone density, bone size, and microarchitecture (1-3). It accomplishes this by:
- increasing osteoblast number and activity
- increasing the bone remodeling rate and the amount of bone deposited in each remodeling cycle
- increasing trabecular thickness and improving trabecular connectivity
- increasing cortical thickness and bone size
- Hodsman AB, Hanley DA, Watson PH, Fraher LJ. Pharmacologic mechanisms of therapeutics: parathyroid hormone. In: Bilezikian JB, Raisz KG, Rodan GA, eds. Principles of bone biology. San Diego. Academic Press 20021305-1324.
- Reeve J, Meunier PJ, Parsons JA, Bernat M, Bijvoet OL, Courpron P, Edouard C, Klenerman L, Neer RM, Renier JC, Slovik D, Vismans FJ, Potts Jr JT. Anabolic effect of human parathyroid hormone fragment on trabecular bone in involutional osteoporosis: a multicenter trial. Br Med J 2002; 280: 1305-1324.
- Jian Y, Zhao JJ, Mitlak Bh, Wang O, Genant HK, Eriksen EF. Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) improves both cortical and cancellous bone structure. J Bone Miner Res 2003; 18: 1932-41.