Osteonecrosis (ON) in the knee occurs as a localized inflammatory disease in relation to spontaneous or non-traumatic ON. Conservative treatment possibilities are limited, and prognosis appears to be poor; in most cases, ON results in knee arthroplasty. Bisphosphonates are suggested to prevent bone resorption and collapse of necrotic bone. In this observational, prospective study we investigated the effect of bisphosphonate treatment in patients with spontaneous or arthroscopy-induced ON of the knee. Twenty-eight patients with osteonecrotic lesions and bone marrow oedema in the knee were included. In 22 patients (80%), ON was identified after arthroscopic surgery of the knee; six patients were diagnosed with spontaneous ON. Patients were initially given pamidronate 120 mg i.v. divided in 3-4 perfusions over 2 weeks, followed by oral bisphosphonate treatment with alendronate 70 mg weekly for 4-6 months. Bisphosphonate treatment resulted in a rapid pain relief, VAS decreasing from 8.2 ± 1.2 at baseline to 5.02 ± 0.6 after 4-6 weeks (p \ 0.001). After 6 months, the VAS decreased by 80%
In patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, bisphosphonate treatment (i.e., IV ibandronate) has no beneficial effect over and above anti-inflammatory medication.
Although IV bisphosphonates are generally safe, the occurrence of transient influenza-like symptoms after IV bisphosphonates seems to be more frequent in clinical practice than has been reported in clinical trials.
BACKGROUND:The pyridinium cross-links pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) are established markers of bone resorption. We evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of a commercially available PYD HPLC assay and established reference intervals in children and adults.
Concurrent use of bisphosphonate therapy reduces the anabolic effect of teriparatide. Consequently, in clinical practice bisphosphonates are discontinued and teriparatide therapy held for a few months to allow bone turnover to increase. We aimed to evaluate the effect of prior bisphosphonate exposure and the effect of bisphosphonate wash-out on the treatment response to teriparatide. Thirty-nine patients with primary osteoporosis (mean age 63.6 +/- 14.0 years), including 26 patients previously treated with oral bisphosphonates (median duration 53 months) and 13 bisphosphonate-naïve patients were started on teriparatide (20 mug daily) and followed prospectively over 12 months. The primary study outcome was change in bone formation markers (PINP, bone ALP, osteocalcin). Secondary outcomes included changes in bone resorption (betaCTX) and 12-month changes in BMD. Markers of bone formation increased early during teriparatide therapy and were followed by an increase in betaCTX (p < 0.001). The magnitude of the increase in bone markers was comparable in both patient groups irrespective of prior bisphosphonate exposure; similarly, increases in BMD after 12 months were not significantly different between bisphosphonate-pretreated and bisphosphonate-naïve patients (lumbar spine 7.1 vs. 8.9%, p = 0.58; total hip 4.1 vs. 1.1%, p = 0.48). The response of teriparatide was not related to the duration of bisphosphonate wash-out (median duration 4.2 months). This study confirms that beneficial effects of teriparatide on intermediate bone endpoints can be translated into clinical practice with less constringent methodological circumstances than in RCTs. Furthermore, as bisphosphonate wash-out does not appear to influence the treatment effect, teriparatide therapy can be started immediately after ceasing bisphosphonate therapy and wash-out.
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