Long term effects of a single dose of intravenous Ibandronate.
For defining the optimal regimen of a treatment of osteoporosis with an intravenous bisphosphonate one needs to know the duration of action of a single dose of the given drug. This allows us to establish the frequency by which a given dose has to be administered for obtaining a sufficient suppression of bone resorption over a longer period. In this study 1 and 2 mg Ibandronate were given as a single i.v. injection to young normal men and to healthy postmenopausal women on a free diet and with no treatment or supplements, and the markers of bone metabolism, as well as BMD, were followed for 6 months. Urinary C-telopeptides decreased by 81-95% 1 week after the injection and remained significantly decreased for 2 weeks after 1 mg Ibandronate, and for 4 months after 2 mg. In men, PTH increased by 80% at one week and remained significantly increased for 2 weeks, after 1mg and 2 mg Ibandronate. Plasma osteocalcin decreased slowly over 2 months in all 3 groups by 22%. Alkaline phosphatase showed similar, but not significant changes. In conclusion, the inhibition of bone resorption induced by 1 mg Ibandronate i.v. does not exceed 1 month and does not allow 3 month intervals in the treatment of osteoporosis, while 2 mg cover 3 months at least.
Burckhardt
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P
Department Internal Medicine, University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. Peter.Burckhardt@chuv.hospvd.ch
Hüsi
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B
Thiébaud
D
D
Jacquet
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AF