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Intravenous zoledronic acid in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density

Reid, IR ; Brown, JP ; Burckhardt, P ; Horowitz, Z ; Richardson, P ; Trechsel, U ; Widmer, A ; Devogelaer, J ; Kaufman, J and Jaeger, P , et al. (2002) In New England Journal of Medicine 346(9). p.653-661
Abstract
Background: Bisphosphonates are effective agents for the management of osteoporosis. Their low bioavailability and low potency necessitate frequent administration on an empty stomach, which may reduce compliance. Gastrointestinal intolerance limits maximal dosing. Although intermittent intravenous treatments have been used, the optimal doses and dosing interval have not been systematically explored. Methods: We studied the effects of five regimens of zoledronic acid, the most potent bisphosphonate, on bone turnover and density in 351 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density in a one-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women received placebo or intravenous zoledronic acid in doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg... (More)
Background: Bisphosphonates are effective agents for the management of osteoporosis. Their low bioavailability and low potency necessitate frequent administration on an empty stomach, which may reduce compliance. Gastrointestinal intolerance limits maximal dosing. Although intermittent intravenous treatments have been used, the optimal doses and dosing interval have not been systematically explored. Methods: We studied the effects of five regimens of zoledronic acid, the most potent bisphosphonate, on bone turnover and density in 351 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density in a one-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women received placebo or intravenous zoledronic acid in doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg at three-month intervals. In addition, one group received a total annual dose of 4 mg as a single dose, and another received two doses of 2 mg each, six months apart. Lumbar-spine bone mineral density was the primary end point. Results: There were similar increases in bone mineral density in all the zoledronic acid groups to values for the spine that were 4.3 to 5.1 percent higher than those in the placebo group (P<0.001) and values for the femoral neck that were 3.1 to 3.5 percent higher than those in the placebo group (P<0.001). Biochemical markers of bone resorption were significantly suppressed throughout the study in all zoledronic acid groups. Myalgia and pyrexia occurred more commonly in the zoledronic acid groups, but treatment-related dropout rates were similar to that in the placebo group. Conclusions: Zoledronic acid infusions given at intervals of up to one year produce effects on bone turnover and bone density as great as those achieved with daily oral dosing with bisphosphonates with proven efficacy against fractures, suggesting that an annual infusion of zoledronic acid might be an effective treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
New England Journal of Medicine
volume
346
issue
9
pages
653 - 661
publisher
Massachusetts Medical Society
external identifiers
  • wos:000174062800003
  • pmid:11870242
  • scopus:0037186926
ISSN
0028-4793
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
30081f0f-e538-4f26-8195-2498cfcd59dd (old id 343129)
alternative location
http://content.nejm.org.ludwig.lub.lu.se/cgi/reprint/346/9/653.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:38:29
date last changed
2022-04-28 17:44:18
@article{30081f0f-e538-4f26-8195-2498cfcd59dd,
  abstract     = {{Background: Bisphosphonates are effective agents for the management of osteoporosis. Their low bioavailability and low potency necessitate frequent administration on an empty stomach, which may reduce compliance. Gastrointestinal intolerance limits maximal dosing. Although intermittent intravenous treatments have been used, the optimal doses and dosing interval have not been systematically explored. Methods: We studied the effects of five regimens of zoledronic acid, the most potent bisphosphonate, on bone turnover and density in 351 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density in a one-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women received placebo or intravenous zoledronic acid in doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg at three-month intervals. In addition, one group received a total annual dose of 4 mg as a single dose, and another received two doses of 2 mg each, six months apart. Lumbar-spine bone mineral density was the primary end point. Results: There were similar increases in bone mineral density in all the zoledronic acid groups to values for the spine that were 4.3 to 5.1 percent higher than those in the placebo group (P&lt;0.001) and values for the femoral neck that were 3.1 to 3.5 percent higher than those in the placebo group (P&lt;0.001). Biochemical markers of bone resorption were significantly suppressed throughout the study in all zoledronic acid groups. Myalgia and pyrexia occurred more commonly in the zoledronic acid groups, but treatment-related dropout rates were similar to that in the placebo group. Conclusions: Zoledronic acid infusions given at intervals of up to one year produce effects on bone turnover and bone density as great as those achieved with daily oral dosing with bisphosphonates with proven efficacy against fractures, suggesting that an annual infusion of zoledronic acid might be an effective treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.}},
  author       = {{Reid, IR and Brown, JP and Burckhardt, P and Horowitz, Z and Richardson, P and Trechsel, U and Widmer, A and Devogelaer, J and Kaufman, J and Jaeger, P and Body, J and Meunier, PJ and Samsioe, Göran}},
  issn         = {{0028-4793}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{653--661}},
  publisher    = {{Massachusetts Medical Society}},
  series       = {{New England Journal of Medicine}},
  title        = {{Intravenous zoledronic acid in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density}},
  url          = {{http://content.nejm.org.ludwig.lub.lu.se/cgi/reprint/346/9/653.pdf}},
  volume       = {{346}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}