Parathyroid Hormone in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), especially intact human PTH [hPTH(1–84)] and its various fragments [hPTH(1–31), (1–34), (1–36), (1–38) and their modifications], has been used for the treatment of osteoporosis over the last 10 years. Although chronic continuous excess of PTH markedly increases bone resorption, as seen in the typical example of primary hyperparathyroidism and osteitis fibrosa generalisata, intermittent PTH administration has been found to stimulate bone formation in animals, providing a basis for the use of PTH as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis.