title: Use of zoledronate for treatment of a bone fragility disorder in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess clinical outcomes and scintigraphic findings in horses with a bone fragility disorder (BFD) treated with zoledronate (a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective uncontrolled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 horses with evidence of a BFD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Signalment, history, and geographic location of horses' home environments were recorded. Physical examinations, lameness evaluations, and nuclear scintigraphy were performed. Diagnosis of a BFD was made on the basis of results of clinical and scintigraphic examination. Each horse was treated with zoledronate (0.075 mg/kg [0.034 mg/lb, IV, once]) at the time of diagnosis. Horses were reevaluated 6 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Affected horses were from the central and coastal regions of California and had ≥ 1 clinical sign of the disorder; these included scapular deformation (n = 2), lordosis (1), nonspecific signs of musculoskeletal pain (1), and lameness that could not be localized to a specific anatomic region (9). All horses had multiple sites of increased radiopharmaceutica uptake during initial scintigraphic evaluation of the axial skeleton and bones of 1 or both forelimbs. Six months after treatment, clinical improvement (defined as improvement in the lameness score, resolution of signs of musculoskeletal pain, or both) was detected in 9 of 10 horses; scintigraphic uptake was unchanged (n = 2) or subjectively decreased (8). No adverse effects attributed to zoledronate treatment were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with zoledronate appeared to be useful in improving clinical outcome and scintigraphic findings in horses with a BFD; however, future placebo-controlled studies are necessary to accurately determine efficacy and long-term safety.
authors.affiliation: William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. sakatzman@gmail.com
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Katzman
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.forename: Melinda H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Puchalski
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Galuppo
authors.forename: Jack R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Robin J W
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid