[Osteonecrosis of the jaws as a possible adverse effect of the use of bisphosphonates].
BACKGROUND
Bisphosphonates are widely used in the treatment of cancer patients with hypercalcemia and bone metastases or in osteoporosis therapy. Current reports have focused on therapy-resistant osteonecrosis of the jaws as a possible side effect of bisphosphonates. Official German drug committees have recently warned about the possibility of these side effects in the publication organs Deutsches Arzteblatt and Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung.


METHODS
So far we have had experience with seven patients showing therapy-resistant osteonecrosis of the mandible under bisphosphonate medication. The presentation of these cases is intended to call attention to this clinically important side effect of bisphosphonate medication.
Hoefert
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Klinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, Plastische Operationen, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Recklinghausen, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. sebastian.hoefert@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Eufinger
H
H
D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077268:Pamidronate; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; D000077268:Pamidronate; D019386:Alendronate