title: Benefits of pamidronate in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: an open prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of pamidronate in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients (median age 8.7 years), were given pamidronate in cyclic infusions of 3 days. Patients received 3-13 cycles (median 6), at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day in infants (below 2 years of age) and 1 mg/kg/day in children (2 years and older). The interval time between cycles was 2 months in infants and 4 months in children. The median follow-up was 16 months. All patients received daily supplementation of calcium, vitamin D and physical rehabilitation. Assessments were performed at baseline and before each cycle. Fracture rate under treatment was compared to the one in the pre-treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain decreased after the first infusion cycle (P < 0.0001). The median of fracture incidence decreased from 15 to 0.5 per year in infants and from 2.0 to 1 per year in children (P = 0.04). Alkaline phosphatase decreased by 31.2% and N-telopeptide collagen cross-links decreased by 61.8% (P < 0.001). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine increased by a median of 55.4% (P < 0.001). Z-scores increased from a median of -4.7 to -2.6 (P < 0.001). The femoral neck, BMD increased by a median of 16%. The area of the first four lumbar vertebrae increased by a median of 21.5% (P < 0.001). No adverse effect on growth or on fracture healing was observed. Side effects were symptomatic hypocalcemia in one infant, and the transient acute phase reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pamidronate increases BMD, decreases bone remodeling markers, pain and fracture rate in infants and children with OI.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Orthopédie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris VI, Paris, France. veronique.forin@trs.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Forin
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guigonis
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bensman
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010147:Pain Measurement; D000077268:Pamidronate; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004164:Diphosphonates; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D003094:Collagen; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000077268:Pamidronate