The effect of parathyroid hormone (1-84) treatment on serum bone morphogenetic protein 4 and vascular endothelial growth factor in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis

Purpose To investigate the effect of 18 months’ para- thyroid hormone 1–84 (PTH 1–84) treatment on serum levels of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and vas- cular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis. Methods Thirty-seven postmenopausal women with oste- oporosis (mean age 72.9 ± 8.1 years old) and 23 healthy controls (mean age 68.9 ± 9.9 years old) were enrolled. Patients were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of PTH (1–84) 100 mcg for 18 months, plus calcium 1 gr and vitamin D 800 IU per os daily. Blood samples were taken every 6 months during the study. Results At baseline, there were no differences considering anthropometric parameters, co-morbidities, current medications used between patients and controls. Mean serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in osteoporotic patients compared to controls (436.7 ± 259.7