title: Effects of switching weekly alendronate or risedronate to monthly minodronate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a 12-month prospective study.
abstract: Switching weekly ALN or RIS to monthly MIN in patients with RA, of whom two-thirds were treated with low-dose PSL, significantly decreased bone turnover markers and increased BMD at 12 months, suggesting that monthly MIN may be an effective alternative treatment option of oral bisphosphonate treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the effects of switching weekly alendronate (ALN 35 mg) or risedronate (RIS 17.5 mg) to monthly minodronate (MIN 50 mg) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient characteristics were as follows: n = 172; 155 postmenopausal women, age 65.5 (44–87) years; T-score of lumbar spine (LS), −1.4; total hip (TH), −1.8; femoral neck (FN), −2.1; dose and rate of oral prednisolone (2.3 mg/day), 69.1 %; prior duration of ALN or RIS, 46.6 months; were allocated, based on their preference, to either the (1) continue group (n = 88), (2) switch-from-ALN group (n = 44), or (3) switch-from-RIS group (n = 40).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, increase in BMD was significantly greater in group 3 compared to group 1: LS (4.1 vs 1.2 %; P < 0.001), TH (1.9 vs −0.7 %; P < 0.01), and FN (2.7 vs −0.5 %; P < 0.05); and in group 2 compared to group 1: LS (3.2 vs 1.2 %; P < 0.05) and TH (1.5 vs −0.7 %; P < 0.01). The decrease in bone turnover markers was significantly greater in group 3 compared to group 1: TRACP-5b (−37.3 vs 2.5 %; P < 0.001), PINP (−24.7 vs −6.2 %; P < 0.05), and ucOC (−39.2 vs 13.0 %; P < 0.05); and in group 2 compared to group 1: TRACP-5b (−12.5 vs 2.5 %; P < 0.05) at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Switching weekly ALN or RIS to monthly MIN in patients with RA may be an effective alternative treatment option of oral bisphosphonate treatment.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ebina
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneshiro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yukioka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057240:Patient Preference; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000068296:Risedronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; C087958:YM 529; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D019386:Alendronate