Intravenous pamidronate in juvenile osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of the aminobisphosphonate, disodium pamidronate, in children with vertebral osteoporosis.


METHODS
Five children (aged 10-15 years) with vertebral osteoporosis who developed compression fractures in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine as a consequence of five different conditions, received treatment with intravenous disodium pamidronate in doses ranging from 0.5 to 12 mg/kg/y.


RESULTS
Each child had rapid pain relief following the first treatment, followed by large increments in lumbar spine bone density over one year; the change in bone density standard deviation score ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 with percentage increments of 26% to 54%.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous pamidronate appears to be a useful therapeutic option in childhood osteoporosis, but its use in children must still be regarded as experimental and therefore closely monitored.
Shaw
N J
NJ
Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK. nick.shaw@bhamchildrens.wmids.nhs.uk
Boivin
C M
CM
Crabtree
N J
NJ
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000139:chemically induced; D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D000077268:Pamidronate; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate