Patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are prone to bone fracture and skeletal deformity, and treatment options for these patients are severely limited.

In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Eric Orwoll and colleagues at Oregon Health and Sciences University evaluated the use of the teriparatide, a recombinant human parathyroid hormone, for patients with OI.

Compared with patients taking placebo, OI patients taking teriparatide exhibited increased bone density; however, this effect was limited to patients with a mild form of disease.

In an accompanying Attending Physician article, Nick Bishop of the University of Sheffield and Jennifer Walsh of the Metabolic Bone Centre caution that despite the apparent improvement observed with teriparatide treatment, the best course of action for OI patients is supportive care to limit damage.

TITLE: Evaluation of teriparatide treatment in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta

ACCOMPANYING THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN TITLE: Osteogenesis imperfecta in adults