Zoledronic acid to prevent bone loss in the first 6 months after renal transplantation. Prevention of steroid-induced osteoporosis with (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-bisphosphonate (APD). Bone mineral density in subjects with mild asthma randomised to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids or non-corticosteroid treatment for two years. Prevention of bone loss in cardiac transplant recipients. A comparison of biphosphonates and vitamin D. Cyclical etidronate in the prevention of bone loss in corticosteroid-treated primary biliary cirrhosis. A prospective, controlled pilot study. Cyclical etidronate reverses bone loss of the spine and proximal femur in patients with established corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. A four-year randomized controlled trial of hormone replacement and bisphosphonate, alone or in combination, in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Bisphosphonates can prevent bone mineral density loss after renal transplantation, but their effect on trabecular mineralization and bone morphology, two key factors of bone stability, remains unknown.
                In a 6-month, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 20 kidney transplant recipients received either 4 mg zoledronic acid or placebo twice within 3 months after engraftment. At transplantation and after 6 months, mean trabecular calcium concentration and trabecular morphometry were measured in bone biopsies. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism were determined monthly.
                Trabecular calcium content increased significantly in the zoledronic acid group, but remained unchanged in the placebo group. BMD at femoral neck showed no change in the zoledronic acid group, but decreased in the placebo group. BMD of the lumbar spine was increased in the zoledronic acid group without change in the placebo group. High-turnover bone disease resolved similarly in both groups, as evidenced by a significant decrease of eroded bone surface, osteoclast and osteoblast surface. Serologic markers of bone formation and resorption were significantly lower in zoledronic acid-treated patients throughout the study. Kidney transplant function was stable after zoledronic acid therapy.
                Our results show that administration of zoledronic acid improves the calcium content of cancellous bone after kidney transplantation. The beneficial effect of bisphosphonate therapy is further evidenced by an increase of lumbar spine BMD, and stabilization of femur BMD. In a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trial comparing the effect of (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-bisphosphonate (APD) (150 mg/day) plus calcium (1 g/day) with that of calcium alone on the bone mass of patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy, the mean metacarpal cortical area in patients receiving APD increased by 1.2% between 0 and 6 months (p less than 0.06) and then remained stable between 6 and 12 months. In contrast, this index progressively declined in the placebo group (p less than 0.05 at 12 months). The two groups differed significantly in the changes at both 6 and 12 months (p less than 0.01). Mean vertebral mineral density, as measured by quantitative computed tomography, increased by 19.6% over 12 months in the APD group (p less than 0.02) but showed a non-significant decline of 8.8% in controls. The differences between the changes were again significant (p less than 0.005). Biochemical indices and bone histomorphometry indicated a reduction in bone resorption and bone formation but there was no evidence of osteomalacia. APD may thus prevent bone loss in glucocorticoid-treated patients over a year. Inhaled corticosteroids are clearly beneficial for patients with asthma of moderate severity, but the risks and benefits of using them in patients with milder asthma are less clear. We have compared the change in bone mineral density over 2 years in adults with mild asthma randomised to receive an inhaled corticosteroid or non-corticosteroid treatment.
                Subjects with mild asthma (mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) 86% predicted, mean age 35 years, taking beta agonists only) were randomised to receive inhaled budesonide, inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate, or non-corticosteroid treatment for 2 years in a prospective randomised open study in 19 centres in France, New Zealand, Spain, and the UK. The corticosteroid dose was adjusted according to a written self-management plan. The main outcome measure-change in bone mineral density after 6, 12, and 24 months-was measured "blind". Secondary outcomes included lung function, the relation between change in bone density and inhaled steroid dose and change in biochemical markers of bone metabolism.
                Of 374 subjects randomised, 239 (64%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The median daily doses of inhaled budesonide (n=87) and beclomethasone (n=74) were 389 microg and 499 microg, respectively. Subjects treated with an inhaled corticosteroid had better asthma control than those in the reference group (n=78). Change in bone mineral density did not differ between the three groups over the 2 years, nor did it correlate with changes in markers of bone metabolism. The mean change in bone mineral density over 2 years in the budesonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, and reference groups was 0.1%, -0.4%, and 0.4% for the lumbar spine and -0.9%, -0.9%, and -0.4% for neck of the femur. Mean daily dose of inhaled steroid was related to reduction in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine but not at the femoral neck.
                In subjects with mild asthma an inhaled corticosteroid provided better asthma control than alternative non-corticosteroid treatment with no difference in change in bone mineral density over 2 years. The relation between dose of inhaled corticosteroid and change in bone density at the lumbar spine may be due to a direct effect of inhaled corticosteroids on bone. Since inhaled steroid dose is also related inversely to lung function, an effect of asthma severity on bone density was also possible. Bone mineral density is already abnormally reduced at the moment of cardiac transplantation and bone loss occurs at an impressive rate in the first postoperative year. The aim of the study was to compare two prophylactic medical regimens as to their efficacy in mitigating bone loss after transplantation. Forty-eight consecutive recipients were randomized to receive either alternating calcium carbonate and disodium etidronate (group A) or a daily supplement of calcium carbonate and alphacalcidol (group B). Bone mineral density measurements were performed immediately before hospital discharge and 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Clinical events were recorded and roentgenograms of the spine were performed postoperatively and 1 and 2 years later. In both treatment groups bone loss remained significant at the level of the lumbar spine in the first postoperative year (P<0.005) and at the level of the femoral neck in the first (P<0.005) and the second (P<0.06) year after transplantation. Six months after transplantation, however, patients receiving alphacalcidol had a significant reduction in bone loss at the level of the lumbar spine (P=0.047) and at the level of the femoral neck (P=0.043). At the level of the femoral neck this decrease in bone loss was even more pronounced in the second postoperative year (P<0.001). In the group of patients treated with disodium etidronate, 4 recipients needed additional hospitalizations for treatment of symptomatic fractures at the level of the lumbar spine or the femoral neck. No such events happened in recipients receiving vitamin D supplements. Prophylactic administration of calcium carbonate and alphacalcidol after cardiac transplantation reduces bone loss and seems to decrease osteoporotic complications. Recently, promising disease modifying effects of low dose corticosteroid treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis have been reported. However, steroid-induced bone loss constitutes a potential drawback of this treatment option.
                To assess whether etidronate can reduce bone loss during corticosteroid treatment.
                Twelve primary biliary cirrhosis patients (all Child-Pugh Class A), treated with prednisone in the context of a 1-year placebo-controlled pilot study with prednisone (maintenance dose 10 mg daily), and azathioprine (50 mg daily), were randomized to receive either cyclical etidronate (400 mg daily, during 2 weeks) alternated with calcium 500 mg daily during 11 weeks or calcium alone. All patients had been receiving ursodeoxycholic acid during at least 1 year and this treatment was continued. Bone mass was measured in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry before and after 3 and 12 months of treatment. Markers of bone formation (serum osteocalcin, procollagen-I-propeptide) and bone resorption (urinary deoxypyridinoline and calcium) were also monitored.
                The mean lumbar bone mineral density did not significantly change in the patients taking etidronate + calcium, in contrast to patients treated with calcium alone (+0.4 vs. -3.0%; p = 0.01). Changes in femoral bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover did not significantly differ between both groups. No adverse effects of etidronate were noted.
                Cyclical etidronate appears to prevent bone loss associated with prednisone treatment in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. These preliminary results encourage the further evaluation of long term prednisone treatment and concurrent bisphosphonate therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis. To compare the bone-mass effects of calcium supplementation and intermittent cyclic etidronate in patients with established corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.
                Eighteen male and 21 female patients who had established corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and were receiving chronic prednisone therapy (> or = 10 mg/d) were enrolled in a prospective 12-month, open-label study. In addition to continuing prednisone therapy, patients received continuous calcium supplementation 500 mg/d (n = 20) or four cycles of intermittent cyclic etidronate therapy consisting of etidronate 400 mg/d for 14 days followed by calcium 500 mg/d for 76 days (n = 19). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine (L1 through L4) and proximal femur (total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months by staff blinded to the treatment. Serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were also measured at these times.
                Treatment with intermittent cyclic etidronate for 12 months resulted in significant increases of 5.7% and 6.8% in BMD of the spine and proximal femur (total hip), respectively (P < 0.02 versus baseline; P < 0.001 versus calcium group). Calcium supplementation alone did not prevent significant losses of 3.4% and 4.1% in BMD at the respective sites (P < 0.02 versus baseline). At the end of the study Z scores reflected significant increases in BMD of the spine and proximal femur (all regions) in the etidronate group (P < 0.01), and significant decreases at the spine, proximal femur, and trochanter in the calcium group (P < 0.01). After 12 months, the difference between the groups was 9.1% (P < 0.01; 95% CI 6.3% to 11.9%) at the spine and 10.9% (P < 0.01; 95% CI 7.8% to 14.1%) at the proximal femur (total hip). Seventeen (89%) of the etidronate-treated patients had increases in BMD of both skeletal sites, whereas only 2 (10%) and 3 (15%) of the calcium-treated patients had positive changes in BMD of the spine and proximal femur (total hip), respectively (P < 0.01). Serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels did not change significantly during the study in either treatment group. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated, with no interactions between prednisone therapy and the study medications. Analyses of response by subgroups (female/male, pulmonary/nonpulmonary indication for prednisone) showed no significant attribute-dependent changes during the 12-month study. At baseline, women had significantly lower BMD of the spine and proximal femur (total hip) (P < 0.01), and patients with pulmonary disease had significantly longer duration of prednisone therapy and cumulative prednisone dose (P < 0.03).
                Intermittent cyclic etidronate reversed the progressive loss of bone mineral density of the spine and proximal femur in female and male patients with established osteoporosis secondary to chronic corticosteroid (prednisone) therapy for pulmonary and nonpulmonary diseases. Calcium supplementation alone did not prevent or attenuate corticosteroid-induced losses. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen and treatment with bisphosphonates have been shown to increase bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. This 4-year prospective randomized study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the combined HRT plus etidronate on BMD in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis.
                Seventy-two postmenopausal women (mean age 64.9+/-0.5 years) attending metabolic bone disease outpatient clinics with established osteoporosis were randomly allocated into one of four treatment groups and monitored for 4 years. All patients enrolled in this study including the control group (n=18) received 1.0 g elemental calcium and 400 units vitamin D per day. The HRT group (n=18) received cyclical estrogen and progesterone; the etidronate group (n=17) received intermittent cyclical etidronate; and the combined therapy group (n=19) received both HRT and etidronate. BMD was measured in the lumbar spine and the hip before treatment and at 2 and 4 years after treatment. Changes in height were recorded, and the occurrence of new vertebral fractures were documented in comparison with the baseline radiographic evaluation. In 40 patients (10 patients per group), analysis of bone histomorphometry was carried out after 4 years of treatment.
                In patients who received the combined therapy, BMD increased in the lumbar spine by 10.4% (P <0.001) and in the hip by 7.0% (P <0.001) at 4 years. For patients treated with ICE, these increases were 7.3% (P <0.001) and 0.9% (P <0.05), and with HRT, the increases were 7.0% (P <0.001) and 4.8% (P <0.01) in the vertebrae and femora, respectively. The group treated with calcium and vitamin D lost 2.5% (P <0.05) and 4.4% (P <0.01) of BMD in the vertebrae and femora, respectively, after 4 years. Patients who received combined therapy had significantly higher BMD in both the vertebrae and in the femora (P <0.05) in comparison with patients who were treated with HRT or etidronate alone after 4 years. In comparison with patients in the control group, there was a trend toward a lower rate of new vertebral fractures in the treatment groups. Height loss was significantly less in all three active treatment groups (HRT [P <0.001], etidronate [P <0.02], and combined therapy group [P <0.0001]), in comparison with the control group. The combined therapy group did not have a significant height loss, in comparison with the HRT (P <0.02) and the etidronate (P <0.001) groups. None of the patients had histomorphometric evidence of osteomalacia.
                This 4-year randomized study showed an additive effect of etidronate and HRT on hip and spine BMD in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis.
Bisphosphonates are effective at preventing and treating corticosteroid-induced bone loss at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Efficacy regarding fracture prevention cannot be concluded from this analysis, although bone density changes are correlated with fracture risk.