title: The efficacy and safety of a combined alendronate and calcitriol agent (maxmarvil): a postmarketing surveillance study in korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combined therapy with alendronate and calcitriol may have additive effects on bone density. An observational study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Maxmarvil, a combinative agent of alendronate (5 mg) and calcitriol (0.5 µg), and to identify factors associated with efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 568 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were enrolled by family physicians in 12 hospitals. The study subjects took Maxmarvil daily for 12 months. Questionnaires about baseline characteristics, socioeconomic status, and daily calcium intake were completed at the first visit. Adverse events were recorded every 3 months and bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 12 months. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Maxmarvil, and the factors related to BMD improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 370 patients were included in final analysis. The median BMD was 0.81 ± 0.12 g/cm(2) at pre-treatment and 0.84 ± 0.13 g/cm(2) after one year. The average BMD improvement was 3.4% ± 6.4% (P < 0.05), and 167 (45.1%) patients showed improvement. Factors associated with improved BMD were continuation of treatment (odds ratio [OR], 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 5.07) and good compliance (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.29 to 5.00). Adverse events were reported by 35 of the 568 patients, with the most common being abdominal pain and dyspepsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maxmarvil was found to be safe, well tolerated and effective in osteoporosis treatment. Continuation of treatment and good compliance were the factors associated with efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hyun-Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunwoo
authors.forename: Jung Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye-Ree
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byungsung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yoo Seock
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Keunsang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.forename: Yun Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Byung-Yeon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chung Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sat-Byul
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Hyeok
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin