Unusual mid-shaft fractures during long-term bisphosphonate therapy.
BACKGROUND
Bisphosphonates are the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of osteoporosis. Although existing evidence supports a good safety profile, there is concern that chronic administration of these agents could result in severe suppression of bone turnover with increased risk of nonvertebral fractures.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to report the clinical presentation, selected bone histomorphometry and X-ray images of patients who developed mid-shaft long bone fractures during bisphosphonate therapy, six of whom had bone biopsy for histomorphometery.


RESULTS
Of the 13 patients who sustained atraumatic mid-shaft fractures, 10 were on alendronate and three were on risedronate therapy before the fractures. In addition to bisphosphonates, three patients were on oestrogen and two on tamoxifen concomitantly. Four patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis were on alendronate for 3-11 years along with glucocorticoid therapy. Bone histomorphometry showed severe suppression of bone turnover in five patients and low bone turnover in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term bisphosphonate therapy may increase the risk of unusual long bone mid-shaft fractures. This is probably due to prolonged suppression of bone turnover, which could lead to accumulation of microdamage and development of hypermineralized bone. At present, the scope of this complication in the larger context of patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy remains unknown, but appears to be small.
Odvina
Clarita V
CV
Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8885, USA. clarita.odvina@utsouthwestern.edu
Levy
Shiri
S
Rao
Sudhir
S
Zerwekh
Joseph E
JE
Rao
D S
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068296:Risedronic Acid
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate