[Evidence for the selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene: its evolving role in the treatment of osteoporosis]

Abstract

Several lines of evidence demonstrate that the objective of osteoporosis treatment consists in the prophylaxis of osteoporotic fractures. With the endpoint of osteoporosis treatment thus clarified, currently, the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) raloxifine represents the mainstay of therapy for osteoporosis, together with the antiresorptive agents bisphosphonates. Thus, this review has drawn mainly on the results of the MORE study to explore the efficacy of raloxifene in inhibiting bone metabolism, increasing bone mineral density effects, and preventing bone fractures. Notably, the available evidence for raloxifene suggests that the efficacy of raloxifene in preventing bone fractures has not only to do with bone mineral density but also to do with bone quality.