Osteoporosis clinical practice guideline: romosozumab for treating severe osteoporosis – an update by the Egyptian Academy of Bone Health

Abstract

Background This is a Clinical Practice Guideline update released by the Egyptian Academy of Bone Health and Metabolic Bone Diseases. It does not replace the clinical practice guidelines published for the treatment of osteoporosis in 2021, but it entails specific recommendations and selective criteria for romosozumab as another pharmacological agent for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. It has been issued, in part, due to the imminent approval of romosozumab in Egypt. Main text The guideline recommends the use of romosozumab, for up to 1 year, for the reduction of vertebral, hip, and non-vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis at very high risk of fracture/imminent fracture risk: defined as T-score less than − 2.5 and a prior hip or vertebral fracture in the past 24 months or a very high fracture risk, as identified by FRAX (FRAX major osteoporosis fracture > 30%, FRAX hip fracture > 4.5%). The recommended dosage of romosozumab is 210 mg monthly by subcutaneous injection for 12 months. For osteoporotic postmenopausal women who have completed a 12-month course of romosozumab, treatment with an anti-resorptive osteoporosis therapy is recommended to maintain bone mineral density gains and reduce fracture risk. The treatment is not recommended for women at high risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, which includes those with prior myocardial infarction or stroke. In conclusion, strategies to osteoporosis management have been highly diversified, with bone health specialists have become able to set up treatment plan tailored to the individual patient’s requirement. Patients with severe osteoporosis at very high fracture risk need stronger therapeutic regimens to start with. Romosozumab endorses bone formation and suppresses bone resorption, leading to a greater anabolic window and a superior positive impact on bone mineral density.