title: Endoscopic comparison of alendronate alone and the enteric-coated alendronate with calcitriol combination in postmenopausal Korean females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to compare the mucosal findings after esophagogastroduodenoscopy in two groups before and after the use of alendronate only and following administration of the enteric-coated alendronate (5 mg) and calcitriol (0.5 µg) combined drug (Maxmarvil, Yuyu Co.).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 33 postmenopausal healthy female volunteers, aged 50 to 70 years (mean age, 58 ± 5) without gastrointestinal symptoms and with normal baseline endoscopic findings. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed at baseline and was repeated 2 weeks later after daily intake of Maxmarvil (n = 17 subjects) or alendronate only (n = 16 subjects). Mucosal injury scores were reported by an endoscopist after 2 weeks of treatment with each medication schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Esophageal mucosal injuries developed in two of 16 subjects in the alendronate only group and 0 of 17 in the Maxmarvil group. Gastric mucosal injuries developed in eight subjects in the alendronate group and four subjects in the Maxmarvil group; this difference was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mucosal damage scores for the alendronate group (total score 24) were significantly higher than those for the Maxmarvil group (total score 9) in the esophagus and stomach. Therefore, this study suggested that enteric-coated Maxmarvil is less harmful to gastrointestinal mucosa than alendronate, and may improve the tolerability of osteoporosis medication in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: Chan Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chul Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Beom
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yeo Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeong Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyo Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Myung Hi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Byun
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C517862:Maxmarvil; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D014815:Vitamins; D002117:Calcitriol; D019386:Alendronate
keywords: Alendronate; Osteoporosis; Safety