You are treating a 63-year-old postmenopausal woman who has complained that she no longer has the ability to stand erect without pain. She also reports that she suffered a minor ulna fracture when she accidently bumped into the door frame entering her bathroom. An x-ray of her spine demonstrates vertebral thinning typical of osteoporosis. In the absence of recombinant parathyroid therapy, which of the following hormones would be most useful in treating this woman's condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Calcitonin is a hormone that helps regulate calcium levels in the body and can be used to treat osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption.  Calcitonin is a hypocalcemic peptide that exerts its effects in numerous species by antagonizing the effects of PTH. In humans, however, the role of calcitonin in calcium homeostasis is of limited physiological significance. In humans, the major benefits of calcitonin are its use in the treatment of osteoporosis and to suppress bone resorption in Paget disease.

You Are Treating a 63-Year-Old Postmenopausal Woman Who Has Complained