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Pamidronate in Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Histomorphometric Effects of Long-Term Therapy

Genetics Unit, Shriners Hospital for Children and McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 1A6

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Frank Rauch, Genetics Unit, Shriners Hospital for Children, 1529 Cedar Avenue, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 1A6. E-mail: frauch{at}shriners.mcgill.ca.

Context: Intravenous pamidronate treatment is beneficial to children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), but the effects of prolonged therapy are not well characterized.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of long-term pamidronate treatment on the bone tissue of children and adolescents with OI.

Design: This is an observational study on OI patients receiving iv pamidronate for more than 4 yr.

Setting: The study was carried out in a pediatric metabolic bone research unit.

Patients: Patients were 25 moderately to severely affected OI patients (seven girls) aged 1.4–15.3 yr at baseline.

Intervention: Intervention was cyclical iv pamidronate at a dose of 9 mg/kg·yr.

Main Outcome Measures: Iliac bone biopsy and lumbar spine bone mineral density measures were obtained at treatment start, after 2.7 ± 0.5 yr (mean ± SD), and after 5.5 ± 0.7 yr of therapy.

Results: Average areal bone mineral density increased by 72% in the first half of the observation period, but by only 24% in the second half. Mean cortical width and cancellous bone volume increased by 87 and 38%, respectively, between baseline and the first time point during treatment (P < 0.001 for all changes). Thereafter, cortical width did not change significantly, but there was a trend (P = 0.06) toward higher cancellous bone volume. Average bone formation rate on trabecular surfaces decreased by 70% after pamidronate treatment was initiated and showed a trend (P = 0.08) toward a further decline in the second part of the study interval.

Conclusion: The gains that can be achieved with pamidronate treatment appear to be largely realized in the first 2–4 yr.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Rauch, C. Munns, C. Land, and F. H. Glorieux Pamidronate in Children and Adolescents with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Effect of Treatment Discontinuation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2006; 91(4): 1268 - 1274. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]