title: Efficacy of intravenous alendronate for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in children with autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Our objective was to investigate the efficacy of intravenous alendronate for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in children with autoimmune diseases. Five children with autoimmune disease and GIOP were treated with 5 mg intravenous alendronate once every 3 months. After 1 and 2 years, we evaluated the changes in the Z score of the femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), serum bone alkaline phosphatase, and urinary deoxypyridinoline. Six patients with GIOP, whose BMD could be observed over a 1-year period without alendronate treatment, were defined as controls. After 1 and 2 years of treatment, intravenous treatment significantly inhibited bone loss. The efficacy of alendronate demonstrated a significant correlation with a high level of bone turnover markers before alendronate treatment. Intravenous alendronate is considered to be a good choice for the treatment of GIOP because of its excellent efficacy. In addition, our study suggests that the efficacy of alendronate depends on the bone turnover of patients before treatment. Intervention with bisphosphonates during periods of high bone turnover may be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan. yuzaburo@cf6.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yuzaburo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimojo
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Takayasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomiita
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019386:Alendronate