Background Since the use of parathyroid hormone as a treatment for osteoporosis is limited
to two years or less, the question of whether antiresorptive therapy should follow parathyroid
hormone therapy is important. We previously reported results after the first year of this
randomized trial comparing the use of full-length parathyroid hormone (1–84) alone,
alendronate alone, or both combined. In the continuation of this trial, we asked whether
antiresorptive therapy is required to maintain gains in bone mineral density after one year of …

When used to treat osteoporosis, no more than 2 years of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is
permitted, raising the question of whether antiresorptive therapy should be given after PTH
is discontinued. This prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, the Parathyroid Hormone
and Alendronate (PaTH) study, compared full-length PTH (1–84), alendronate, and the
combination. The goal was to learn whether antiresorptive treatment is necessary to
maintain the gain in bone mineral density (BMD) achieved after a year of PTH (1–84) …