title: Melorheostosis and its treatment with intravenous zoledronic acid.
abstract: We report a case of melorheostosis, a rare bone disorder characterised by mesodermal dysplasia, and its successful and prolonged treatment with the intravenous bisphosphonate zoledronic acid. The middle-aged man presented with pain and swelling of his tibia, which was diagnosed by imaging and bone biopsy as being due to melorheostosis. There was early symptom control after a single infusion of intravenous zoledronic acid. Prolonged symptom relief was accompanied by long-term suppression of the bone resorption marker β cross-laps. We suggest that melorheostosis can be treated with intravenous zoledronic acid and that treatment can be monitored by the use of a specific bone resorption marker.
authors.affiliation: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Department of Rheumatology, Ward 3, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, UK.
authors.forename: Rosemary Jane
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hollick
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reid