title: Efficacy and safety of alendronic acid in the treatment of osteoporosis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe the efficacy and safety of the off-label use of alendronate in the treatment of osteoporosis in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  a retrospective study (2008-2014) of all patients under 18 years who were dispensed alendronate for this indication. The criteria for initiating treatment were: bone mineral density with a Z-score ≤ -2.5 SD, a past history of bone fractures without a previous traumatism, and persistent pain. The variables collected were: demographic, treatment-related, clinical. and safety data. The treatment was considered to be effective when there was an increase in bone mineral density up to a Z-score > -2.5 SD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a total of 12 patients, 8 of them male, with a mean age of 11 years (± 3 SD), were treated with alendronate. After a mean time of treatment of 2.15 years (± 1.2 SD), there was an increase in bone mineral density in all patients, 9 of which achieved a Z-score > -2.5 SD, so the drug was considered effective in 75% of cases. No patient had bone fractures or expressed adverse effects during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  alendronate increased bone mineral density and was well tolerated in all patients, therefore it could be considered as a therapeutic option in the treatment of osteoporosis in children.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. amsiguero@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín Siguero
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. areas.vera@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vera Lucía
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Áreas Del Águila
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. mtfranco@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Franco Sereno
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. anaisafer86@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Fernández Marchante
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. rpserrano@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez Serrano
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (Ciudad Real), Spain.. cencinas@sescam.org.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Encinas Barrios
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056687:Off-Label Use; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate