Maintained improvement in calcium balance and bone mineral content in patients with osteoporosis treated with the bisphosphonate APD.
The effects of the (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-bisphosphonate (APD) in osteoporosis were investigated in a series of open studies. Seven patients received a high dose of 600 mg/day of APD orally and showed an increase in calcium balance of 5.5 mmol/day (P less than 0.01) within a period of 10 days. In a group of 14 patients with osteoporosis, receiving a low dose of 150 mg/day of APD continuously, the mean calcium balance rose from -0.72 +/- 0.59 mmol/day before treatment to 1.33 +/- 0.87 mmol/day (P less than 0.005) after 1 year. In 24 patients treated with APD 150 mg/day for a mean period of 3.7 years (range 1.4-6.2) repeated dual photon absorptiometry measurements of the lumbar spine showed a mean rate of increase in bone mineral content of 3.1 +/- 1.0% per year (P less than 0.005). This yearly gain in bone mineral content appeared continuous for several years of treatment. In a comparable group of 19 patients with osteoporosis who also received conventional care and treatment but no APD, no significant changes in bone mineral content were found. Addition of a low dose of APD to conventional treatment of osteoporosis does not only prevent bone loss but induces a continuous gain in bone mass. These results justify long-term prospective studies with uninterrupted low dose APD treatment in osteoporosis.
Valkema
R
R
Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Vismans
F J
FJ
Papapoulos
S E
SE
Pauwels
E K
EK
Bijvoet
O L
OL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077268:Pamidronate
D004164:Diphosphonates; D008903:Minerals; D000077268:Pamidronate; D002118:Calcium