title: Randomized controlled trial of zoledronic acid for treatment of osteoporosis in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk at the L1-L4 vertebrae, femoral neck, hip and trochanter in Chinese women with osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted in female patients with osteoporosis, randomized to receive one 5-mg ZOL intravenous infusion per year or placebo equivalent. Facture risk and BMD were measured over a 2-year follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant reduction in the risk of fracture was observed at the trochanter in the ZOL group (n = 242) compared with the placebo group (n = 241); (odds ratio 0.54 [95% confidence interval 0.29, 0.98]): BMD was 0.24, 0.28, 0.31 and 0.22 greater at the L1-L4 vertebrae, total hip, femoral neck and trochanter, respectively, in the ZOL group. The incidence of adverse events was comparable between treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that ZOL could increase BMD and reduce fracture risk in women with osteoporosis over a 2-year follow-up period, and was not associated with any serious drug-related adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of The General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Danqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Aitao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006615:Hip / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
keywords: Zoledronic acid; bone mineral density; fracture; osteoporosis; randomized controlled trial