Treatment for osteoporosis and risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw among female patients in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is an adverse effect of antiresorptives. Among female patients treated for osteoporosis, ONJ risk was threefold higher after 2-3 years of treatment and eightfold after 10 years compared with past use. Absolute risks remained low (~ 0.05% after 5 years) and diminished after discontinuation. PURPOSE: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare adverse effect of antiresorptive drug use; however, the magnitude of risk in osteoporosis patients has not been clearly described. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study among cancer-free female patients aged 40-89 with, or at risk for, osteoporosis in United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum. We followed patients from first osteoporosis treatment until first of osteonecrosis diagnosis, age 90, record end, or other prespecified censoring event, and accumulated person-time by osteoporosis treatment. ONJ cases were selected from CPRD Aurum and linked Hospital Episode Statistics data using an algorithm and manual review. We estimated incidence rates (IR) of ONJ by current treatment type and post discontinuation. We conducted a nested case-control analysis to further describe risk by cumulative dose and duration of antiresorptive therapies. RESULTS: Among 467,654 eligible patients, there were 208 ONJ cases. IR among patients currently treated with antiresorptives (primarily alendronate) was 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.4) per 10,000 person-years. Compared with past use of antiresorptives, odds ratios of ONJ were 3.0 (95% CI 1.5-5.7) after 2-3 years of treatment and 8.1 (95% CI 4.4-15) after 10 years. However, absolute risks remained low (~ 0.05% after 5 years and ~ 0.18% after 10 years) and elevated risks diminished to near zero within 6 to 9 months of discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Risk of ONJ increased after 2-3 years of treatment with antiresorptives; however, the absolute risk was low and returned to baseline shortly after treatment discontinuation.

A retrospective audit with subsequent cost and environmental analysis of a denosumab self-injection program.

The Metabolic Bone Health Department, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, serves a local population of approximately 445 000 people. A retrospective audit of attendance data regarding the denosumab treatment clinic (the traditional treatment pathway) and the denosumab Self-Injection Program (SIP) was conducted to determine whether the SIP is both cost-effective and environmentally beneficial, compared to the traditional treatment pathway. Cost analysis was then conducted by the Finance Department. The audit was conducted over 3 years following the implementation of the service development; 233 patients had enrolled in the program at the time of the audit and 69 had completed 3 years of self-injected treatment. A control group of 497 patients were identified by the service. This group remained on the historical pathway and had consistent attendance activity over the 3-yr period from 2017 to 2019. Pre- and post-period activity of all patients on the program was compared, together with the activity for the independent control group. The SIP resulted in a reduction in clinical contacts, with financial analysis showing a total opportunity cost saving per patient of £420 per annum. There were obvious benefits to the patient of a reduced number of visits to a clinical site, which also resulted in an estimated carbon footprint reduction of 59 kg CO2 per patient per annum. The cost analysis is based on our organization's 2022 charges. The SIP demonstrates that by focusing on care "closer to home", it is possible to maximize resources, improve the patient experience through reduced travel, and reduce the environmental impact of healthcare.

Romosozumab followed by denosumab versus denosumab only: a post hoc analysis of FRAME and FRAME extension.

Osteoanabolic-first treatment sequences are superior to oral bisphosphonates for fracture reduction and bone mineral density (BMD) gain. However, data comparing osteoanabolic medications, with the more potent antiresorptive, denosumab (DMAb), are limited. We analyzed FRAME and FRAME Extension data to assess BMD and fracture incidence in patients treated with romosozumab (Romo) followed by DMAb (Romo/DMAb) versus DMAb (DMAb/DMAb) for 24 months. In FRAME, women aged ≥55 years (total hip [TH] or femoral neck [FN] T-score: -2.5 to -3.5) were randomized to Romo or placebo for 12 months followed by DMAb for 12 months. In FRAME Extension, both cohorts received DMAb for another 12 months. This post hoc analysis compared BMD change and fracture incidence in patients on Romo/DMAb (months 0-24) versus DMAb/DMAb (months 12-36). Patient characteristics were balanced by propensity score weighting (PSW) and sensitivity analyses were conducted using PSW with multiple imputation (PSW-MI) and propensity score matching (PSM). Unmeasured confounding was addressed using E-values. After PSW, over 24 months, compared with DMAb/DMAb, treatment with Romo/DMAb produced significantly greater BMD increases at the lumbar spine [LS], TH, and FN (mean differences: 9.3%, 4.4%, and 4.1%, respectively; all p<0.001). At month 24, in women with a baseline T-score of -3.0, the probability of achieving a T-score > -2.5 was higher with Romo/DMAb versus DMAb/DMAb (LS: 92% versus 47%; TH: 50% versus 5%). In the Romo/DMAb versus DMAb/DMAb cohorts, new vertebral fractures were significantly reduced (0.62% versus 1.26% [odds ratio = 0.45; p=0.003]) and rates of clinical, nonvertebral, and hip fractures were lower (differences not significant). Similar BMD and fracture outcomes were observed with PSW-MI and PSM sensitivity analyses. The sequence of Romo/DMAb resulted in greater BMD gains and higher probability of achieving T-scores > -2.5, significantly reduced new vertebral fracture incidence, and numerically lowered the incidence (not significant) of clinical, nonvertebral, and hip fractures versus DMAb only through 24 months.

In patients with very high fracture risk, a treatment sequence with a bone-forming agent, followed by a bisphosphonate (one type of antiresorptive that reduces bone loss) is more effective in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and reducing fracture risk compared to treatment with bisphosphonates alone. Here, we utilized patient data from the FRAME and FRAME Extension clinical trials to compare changes in BMD and fracture incidence in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with the bone-forming agent, romosozumab (Romo), for 12 months followed by the most potent antiresorptive, denosumab (DMAb), for 12 months (Romo/DMAb) versus patients treated with DMAb alone for 24 months. Propensity score weighting was used to balance the patient characteristics between the two groups. We found that BMD gains were significantly higher in patients treated with the Romo/DMAb sequence versus DMAb alone; these patients also had a higher probability of achieving a T-score above the osteoporosis range (>­2.5). In addition, new vertebral fractures were significantly lower and rates of clinical, nonvertebral, and hip fractures trended lower in patients treated with the Romo/DMAb sequence versus DMAb alone. Thus, a 24-months treatment sequence of Romo/DMAb compared with DMAb alone, resulted in higher BMD gains and lower fracture risk.

Goal-directed osteoporosis treatment: ASBMR/BHOF task force position statement 2024.

The overarching goal of osteoporosis management is to prevent fractures. A goal-directed approach to long-term management of fracture risk helps ensure that the most appropriate initial treatment and treatment sequence is selected for individual patients. Goal-directed treatment decisions require assessment of clinical fracture history, vertebral fracture identification (using vertebral imaging as appropriate), measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), and consideration of other major clinical risk factors. Treatment targets should be tailored to each patient's individual risk profile and based on the specific indication for beginning treatment, including recency, site, number and severity of prior fractures, and BMD levels at the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine. Instead of first-line bisphosphonate treatment for all patients, selection of initial treatment should focus on reducing fracture risk rapidly for patients at very high and imminent risk, such as in those with recent fractures. Initial treatment selection should also consider the probability that a BMD treatment target can be attained within a reasonable period of time and the differential magnitude of fracture risk reduction and BMD impact with osteoanabolic versus antiresorptive therapy. This position statement of the ASBMR/BHOF Task Force on Goal-Directed Osteoporosis Treatment provides an overall summary of the major clinical recommendations about treatment targets and strategies to achieve those targets based on the best evidence available, derived primarily from studies in older postmenopausal women of European ancestry.

Goal-directed treatment can help healthcare providers recommend the best treatments for individual patients to prevent fractures. The goal-directed strategy considers the site, number, and recency of prior fractures. This may require imaging for spine fractures, which may not have caused pain. Treatment decisions also require bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and consideration of other major risk factors. In contrast to the standard approach, same first treatment for all, treatment selection is tailored to an individual's risk. In patients with recent fractures of the spine, hip, or pelvis, fracture risk is very high and treatment should rapidly reduce that risk. For others, the target is a specific BMD level and should consider the likelihood that the treatment target can be attained within a reasonable period of time, which differs for osteoporosis medications. After initial therapy, BMD should be assessed to determine if the target has been achieved. If so, strategies should focus on maintaining BMD. If the target is not yet achieved, treatment should be intensified, or continued if it is already the most potent option. This position statement represents a consensus of expert recommendations about treatment targets and strategies to achieve those targets based on the best available evidence.

Intermittent dosing of zoledronic acid based on bone turnover marker assessment reduces vertebral and non-vertebral fractures.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the administration of zoledronic acid (ZOL) once yearly for 3 years or once over 3 years, yields similar antifracture efficacy. Bone turnover markers can predict the antifracture efficacy of antiresorptive agents, with procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) being the most useful marker. In this retrospective cohort study, we explored the effects of intravenous dosing of ZOL guided by serum (S)-P1NP assessment on bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures. Consenting patients (N = 202, mean age 68.2 years) with osteoporosis were treated with ZOL for an average of 4.4 (range 2-8) years. S-P1NP and BMD were measured at baseline and every 1-2 years. We assessed the number of subsequent vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in the 2-year time periods. The number of patients assessed was 202, 147, 69, and 29 at years 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, respectively. A new ZOL infusion was given if S-P1NP exhibited values above 35 µg/L. BMD increased by 6.2% (SD 4.0) over the first 2 years and stabilized in years 2-8 (P <.05). Median S-P1NP exhibited an initial reduction from 58.0 to 31.3 µg/L at year 2 and then increased to 39.0 µg/L at years 7-8. Compared with fractures observed in the last 2 years before baseline, fracture rates exhibited consistent reductions, for vertebral fractures odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval] = 0.61 [0.47, 0.80], P <.001 and for nonvertebral fractures OR = 0.23 [0.18, 0.31], P <.001. In conclusion, intermittent dosing of intravenous ZOL based on the assessment of S-P1NP with cut-off at 35 µg/L resulted in an initial increase followed by a stable BMD, suppression of S-P1NP, and stable reduction of fractures for 8 years. Only 39% of patients needed more than one infusion. This approach reduces healthcare costs and might also reduce the risk of rare side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femoral fracture.

Osteoporosis treatment prevents hip fracture similarly in both sexes: the FOCUS observational study.

Randomized trials have not been performed, and may never be, to determine if osteoporosis treatment prevents hip fracture in men. Addressing that evidence gap, we analyzed data from an observational study of new hip fractures in a large integrated healthcare system to compare the reduction in hip fractures associated with standard-of-care osteoporosis treatment in men versus women. Sampling from 271,389 patients aged ≥ 65 who had a hip-containing CT scan during care between 2005 and 2018, we selected all who subsequently had a first hip fracture (cases) after the CT scan (start of observation) and a sex-matched equal number of randomly selected patients. From those, we analyzed all who tested positive for osteoporosis (DXA-equivalent hip BMD T-score ≤ -2.5, measured from the CT scan using VirtuOst). We defined "treated" as at least six months of any osteoporosis medication by prescription fill data during follow-up; "not-treated" was no prescription fill. Sex-specific odds ratios of hip fracture for treated vs not-treated patients were calculated by logistic regression; adjustments included age, BMD T-score, BMD-treatment interaction, BMD, race/ethnicity, and seven baseline clinical risk factors. At two-year follow-up, 33.9% of the women (750/2,211 patients) and 24.0% of the men (175/728 patients) were treated primarily with alendronate; 51.3% and 66.3%, respectively, were not-treated; and 721 and 269, respectively, had a first hip fracture since the CT scan. Odds ratio of hip fracture for treated vs not-treated was 0.26 (95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.33) for women and 0.21 (0.13-0.34) for men; the ratio of these odds ratios (men:women) was 0.81 (0.47-1.37), indicating no significant sex effect. Various sensitivity and stratified analyses confirmed these trends, including results at five-year follow-up. Given these results and considering the relevant literature, we conclude that osteoporosis treatment prevents hip fracture similarly in both sexes.

Much evidence suggests that osteoporosis treatment should prevent hip fracture similarly in both sexes. However, because of their expense, randomized clinical trials to demonstrate that definitively have not been performed and may never be. As a result, osteoporosis testing and treatment are not as widely adopted for men as it is for women. Addressing that evidence gap, we analyzed data from over 250,000 patients in the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system in Southern California. Sampling a subset of all patients over a 13-year period who had had a CT (CAT) scan as part of their medical care for any reason, we measured BMD from the CT scans to identify all patients who had osteoporosis at the hip and then used data from the electronic health records to determine statistically the risk of a future hip fracture for those who were treated for osteoporosis versus those who were not treated. We found that the reduction in risk of hip fracture associated with treatment did not differ between the sexes. These results demonstrate that treating osteoporosis in patients at high risk of hip fracture should reduce the risk of hip fracture similarly in both sexes.

Three-year effect of bisphosphonates on bone mineral density after denosumab withdrawal: observations from a real-world study.

Data on long-term treatment regimens for preventing bone mineral density (BMD) loss that occurs after denosumab (Dmab) withdrawal are scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term changes (12-36 months) in BMD and bone turnover markers in a group of postmenopausal women who had been treated with Dmab and received subsequent treatment with bisphosphonates. Secondary objectives were to evaluate factors associated with BMD loss, to compare the BMD change in patients who received oral vs intravenous bisphosphonates, and to assess the frequency of fragility fractures after Dmab discontinuation. The clinical data of 54 patients, 26 of whom had clinical and DXA assessments at 36 months, were analyzed. After 12 months, the mean LS BMD had decreased by 2.8% (±5.0), FN BMD by 1.9% (±5.8), and TH BMD by 1.9% (±3.7). After 36 months, LS BMD had decreased by 3.7% (±6.7), FN BMD by 2.5% (±7.1), and TH BMD by 3.6% (±5.2). C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen significantly increased during the first 12 months after Dmab withdrawal but then decreased at 36 months. BMD loss at 12 months was higher in patients with more than 30 months of Dmab treatment, but this difference was only statistically significant at FN (-3.3% vs -0.3%, P = .252 at LS, -3.3% vs 0.3%, P = .033 at FN, and -2.1% vs 0.9, P = .091 at TH). There were no statistically significant differences regarding the change in BMD at 12 and 36 months between oral and intravenous treatment. Seven patients suffered incidental vertebral fractures (clinical vertebral fractures: n = 6, morphometric fractures: n = 1) three of which were multiple. None of these patients were treated following international or institutional guidelines or recommendations. In summary, our study suggests that bisphosphonates can help maintain BMD for 36 months after Dmab discontinuation.

Comparative effectiveness of denosumab vs alendronate among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Although clinical trials have shown that denosumab significantly increases bone mineral density at key skeletal sites more than oral bisphosphonates, evidence is lacking from head-to-head randomized trials evaluating fracture outcomes. This retrospective cohort study uses administrative claims data from Medicare fee-for service beneficiaries to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of denosumab vs alendronate in reducing fracture risk among women with PMO in the US. Women with PMO ≥ 66 yr of age with no prior history of osteoporosis treatment, who initiated denosumab (n = 89 115) or alendronate (n = 389 536) from 2012 to 2018, were followed from treatment initiation until the first of a specific fracture outcome, treatment discontinuation or switch, end of study (December 31, 2019), or other censoring criteria. A doubly robust inverse-probability of treatment and censoring weighted function was used to estimate the risk ratio associated with the use of denosumab compared with alendronate for hip, nonvertebral (NV; includes hip, humerus, pelvis, radius/ulna, other femur), non-hip nonvertebral (NHNV), hospitalized vertebral (HV), and major osteoporotic (MOP; consisting of NV and HV) fractures. Overall, denosumab reduced the risk of MOP by 39%, hip by 36%, NV by 43%, NHNV by 50%, and HV fractures by 30% compared with alendronate. Denosumab reduced the risk of MOP fractures by 9% at year 1, 12% at year 2, 18% at year 3, and 31% at year 5. An increase in the magnitude of fracture risk reduction with increasing duration of exposure was also observed for other NV fracture outcomes. In this cohort of almost half-a-million treatment-naive women with PMO, we observed clinically significant reductions in the risk of MOP, hip, NV, NHNV, and HV fractures for patients on denosumab compared with alendronate. Patients who remained on denosumab for longer periods of time experienced greater reductions in fracture risk.

Osteoporosis-related fractures can have a significant impact on the health and quality of life of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, as well as pose a significant burden to society. Although clinical trials have shown that denosumab is more effective at increasing bone mineral density compared with alendronate, there is a lack of evidence evaluating the fracture risk between these 2 commonly used osteoporosis therapies. In this study using Medicare claims data for almost 500 000 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis with no prior history of osteoporosis medication use, we compared the risk of fracture­an important outcome to patients and health care providers­between denosumab and alendronate. Advanced analytic methods were implemented to ensure the study results were valid and were not unduly influenced by biases common in observational studies. We observed clinically meaningful reductions (from 30% up to 50%) in the risk of hip, nonvertebral, non-hip nonvertebral, hospitalized vertebral, and major osteoporotic fractures for patients treated with denosumab compared with alendronate. Patients who remained on denosumab for longer periods of time experienced greater reductions in fracture risk than those who remained on alendronate.

Comparative effectiveness and safety outcomes between denosumab and bisphosphonate in South Korea.

Both bisphosphonates and denosumab are the mainstays of treatment for osteoporosis to prevent fractures. However, there are still few trials directly comparing the prevention of fractures and the safety of 2 drugs in the treatment of osteoporosis. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between denosumab and bisphosphonates using a nationwide claims database. The database was covered with 10 million, 20% of the whole Korean population sampled by age and sex stratification of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in South Korea. Among 228 367 subjects who were over 50 yr of age and taking denosumab or bisphosphonate from January 2018 to April 2022, the analysis was performed on 91 460 subjects after 1:1 propensity score matching. The primary outcome was treatment effectiveness; total fracture, major osteoporotic fracture, femur fracture, pelvic fracture, vertebral fracture, adverse drug reactions; acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and atypical femoral fracture. Total fracture and osteoporotic major fracture, as the main outcomes of efficacy, were comparable in the denosumab and bisphosphonate group (HR 1.06, 95% CI, 0.98-1.15, P = .14; HR 1.13, 95% CI, 0.97-1.32, P = .12, respectively). Safety for acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and atypical femoral fracture also did not show any differences between the 2 groups. In subgroup analysis according to ages, the denosumab group under 70 yr of age had a significantly lower risk for occurrences of acute kidney injury compared to the bisphosphonate group under 70 yr of age (HR 0.53, 95% CI, 0.29-0.93, P = .03). In real-world data reflecting clinical practice, denosumab and bisphosphonate showed comparable effectiveness for total fractures and major osteoporosis fractures, as well as safety regarding acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and atypical femoral fracture.

This study compared the effectiveness and safety of denosumab and bisphosphonates, 2 primary treatments for osteoporosis, using a large South Korean nationwide claims database. Analysis of data from 91 460 individuals over 50 yr old showed no significant difference in preventing fractures or in safety outcomes such as kidney injury and atypical femoral fractures between the 2 drugs. However, among patients under 70, denosumab was associated with a lower risk of acute kidney injury. Overall, both medications demonstrated similar effectiveness and safety in the real-world treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis treatments for intervertebral disc degeneration and back pain: a perspective.

Low back pain derived from intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a debilitating spinal condition that, despite its prevalence, does not have any intermediary guidelines for pharmacological treatment between palliative care and invasive surgery. The development of treatments for the IVD is complicated by the variety of resident cell types needed to maintain the regionally distinct structural properties of the IVD that permit the safe, complex motions of the spine. Osteoporosis of the spine increases the risk of vertebral bone fracture that can increase the incidence of back pain. Fortunately, there are a variety of pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis that target osteoblasts, osteoclasts and/or osteocytes to build bone and prevent vertebral fracture. Of particular note, clinical and preclinical studies suggest that commonly prescribed osteoporosis drugs like bisphosphonates, intermittent parathyroid hormone, anti-sclerostin antibody, selective estrogen receptor modulators and anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand inhibitor denosumab may also relieve back pain. Here, we cite clinical and preclinical studies and include unpublished data to support the argument that a subset of these therapeutics for osteoporosis may alleviate low back pain by also targeting the IVD.

On-time denosumab dosing recovered rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet remains suboptimal.

Timely administration of denosumab every 6 mo is critical in osteoporosis treatment to avoid multiple vertebral fracture risk upon denosumab discontinuation or delay. This study aimed to estimate the immediate and prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timing of denosumab doses. We identified older adults (≥66 yr) residing in the community who were due to receive denosumab between January 2016 and December 2020 using Ontario Drug Benefit data. We completed an interrupted time-series analysis to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) on the monthly proportion of on-time denosumab doses (183 +/-30 d). Analyses were stratified by user type: patients due for their second dose (novice users), third or fourth dose (intermediate users), or ≥5th dose (established users). In additional analyses, we considered patients living in nursing homes, switching to other osteoporosis drugs, and reported trends until February 2022. We studied 148 554 patients (90.9% female, mean [SD] age 79.6 [8.0] yr) receiving 648 221 denosumab doses. The average pre-pandemic proportion of on-time therapy was steady in the community, yet differed by user type: 64.9% novice users, 72.3% intermediate users, and 78.0% established users. We identified an immediate overall decline in the proportion of on-time doses across all user types at the start of the pandemic: -17.8% (95% CI, -19.6, -16.0). In nursing homes, the pre-pandemic proportion of on-time therapy was similar across user types (average 83.5%), with a small decline at the start of the pandemic: -3.2% (95% CI, -5.0, -1.2). On-time therapy returned to pre-pandemic levels by October 2020 and was not impacted by therapy switching. Although on-time dosing remains stable as of February 2022, approximately one-fourth of patients in the community do not receive denosumab on-time. In conclusion, although pandemic disruptions to denosumab dosing were temporary, levels of on-time therapy remain suboptimal.

Complex clinical encounter series: osteoporosis presenting during pregnancy and lactation: wait and reassess.

Two months after her first pregnancy, a 35-yr-old exclusively breastfeeding woman bent to move her baby in the car seat and experienced sudden, severe pain from 5 spontaneous vertebral compression fractures. Genomic screen was negative but she had mild ankylosing spondylitis previously well controlled on etanercept. She was vegetarian with a high phytate intake. A lactation consultant had advised her to pump and discard milk between feeds, leading her to believe she produced twice as much milk as her baby ingested. She presented with a LS Z score of -3.6 and a TH Z score of -1.6. After 6 mo postweaning, she was treated with teriparatide (14 mo intermittently over 18 mo) and ultimately achieved a 50% increase in LS bone density and an 8% increase in TH bone density. Her fragility is explained by normal lactational bone loss amplified by excessive milk production and phytate-induced impairment of intestinal calcium absorption, ankylosing spondylitis, and the bend-and-lift maneuver. The marked increase in bone density resulted from the combined effects of spontaneous recovery and pharmacotherapy. Spontaneous recovery of bone mass and strength should occur during 12 mo after weaning in all women, including those who have fractured.

Giant cell arteritis associated with intravenous zoledronic acid administration.

Bisphosphonates frequently provoke a cytokine-driven acute clinical response (ACR) characterized by fever, chills, arthralgias, and myalgias. More rarely, an association between aminobisphosphonates, such as alendronate and zoledronic acid, and rheumatologic and/or immune-mediated syndromes (RIMS) has been described. Herein we report 2 patients, one with a prior history of rheumatic disease and one without, who developed giant cell arteritis meeting the American College of Rheumatology 2022 criteria following zoledronic acid infusion. We subsequently review existing mechanistic and clinical literature supporting this link. The duration of symptoms and elevation of inflammatory markers may serve as indicators for differentiating between the more common ACR and less frequent but potentially morbid RIMS. Although the benefit of bisphosphonates will outweigh the risk of RIMS for most patients with high fracture risk, clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon to assist earlier diagnosis and treatment in affected individuals.

Dental implant treatment in patients with cancer on high-dose antiresorptive medication: A prospective feasibility study with 2 years follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Dental implant treatment is considered contraindicated in patients with cancer on high-dose antiresorptive medication (HDAR). The aim of this prospective, feasibility study was to evaluate implant treatment in patients with cancer on HDAR, in terms of implant survival, implant success, and oral health-related quality of life (OHLQoL) after 2 years of loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implants were inserted in three groups of HDAR patients: (1) Previous tooth extraction, no medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), (2) Previous MRONJ, now healed, (3) Existing MRONJ, planned surgical resection. Implants were placed without adjunctive bone or soft tissue argumentation. Abutment operation was performed after ≥12 weeks. Prosthetic treatment was initiated ≥14 weeks. Survival and success rate were determined, and OHLQoL was analyzed with OHIP-49 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires. Patients were seen for 6 months, 1- and 2 years follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients, 39 implants, completed the implant-based prosthetic treatment. Implant-supported crowns and overdentures were fabricated. Thirteen patients (59%) with 23 implants (59%) completed 2 years follow-up. Overall implant survival and success rate after 2 years of loading were 100% and 97.4%, respectively. OHLQoL for the patients increased in all groups after the treatment, a substantial increase was seen in group 3. Two patients developed MRONJ, but not related to the implant treatment. CONCLUSION: Dental implant treatment, with high survival and success rate and increased post-treatment OHLQoL, is feasible in HDAR patients after 2 years of loading. Caution with general recommendations should be exercised.

Sequential Therapy for the Long-Term Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a chronic condition characterized by decreased bone mass, loss of skeletal integrity, and increased susceptibility to fracture. Drugs used to treat osteoporosis can be classified as those that block bone resorption (antiresorptive), stimulate bone formation (anabolic), or do both. While all currently approved medications reduce the risk of fragility fractures in high-risk populations, they are generally unable to fully restore bone strength in most patients with established disease. Thus, the majority of patients require disease management over many years. Unfortunately, the continuous use of a single drug has limitations, both in terms of efficacy and safety, and so sequential therapy is commonly required. Given the expanding list of pharmacological agents currently available, careful consideration needs to be given as to which drugs to use and in what sequence. This review will evaluate the differential effects of antiresorptive, bone-forming, and dual-acting drugs when used in specific sequences and will explore the current evidence favoring the initial use of bone-forming/dual-acting drugs followed by antiresorptive medications. This review will also examine the notion that long-term treatment with an antiresorptive drug may diminish the efficacy of subsequent treatment with a bone-forming/dual-acting drug. Finally, this review will explore the current evidence pertaining to the specific issue of how to best prevent the clinical ramifications of denosumab cessation.

Denosumab and Mortality in a Real-World Setting: A Comparative Study.

Denosumab (Dmab) is increasingly prescribed worldwide. Unlike bisphosphonates (BPs), its effect on mortality has yet to be well explored. This study examined the association between Dmab and all-cause mortality compared with no treatment in subjects with a fracture and BPs in subjects without a fracture. The study population was from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study (n = 267,357), a prospective population-based cohort with questionnaire data linked to hospital admissions (Admitted Patients Data Collection [APDC] data were linked by the Centre for Health Record Linkage), medication records (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [PBS] provided by Services Australia), and stored securely (secure data access was provided through the Sax Institute's Secure Unified Research Environment [SURE]). The new-user cohort design with propensity-score (PS) matching was implemented. In the fracture cohort, Dmab and oral BP users were matched 1:2 to no treatment (Dmab: 617 women, 154 men; oral BPs: 615 women, 266 men). In the no-fracture cohort, Dmab users were matched 1:1 with oral BPs and zoledronic acid (Zol) users (Dmab:oral BPs: 479 men, 1534 women; Dmab:Zol: 280 men, 625 women). Mortality risk was measured using sex-specific pairwise multivariable Cox models. In the fracture cohort, compared with no treatment, Dmab was associated with 48% lower mortality in women (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.72) but not in men. Oral BPs were associated with 44% lower mortality in both sexes (women HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.42-0.77; men HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.40-0.78). In the no-fracture cohort, compared with BPs, Dmab was associated with 1.5- to 2.5-fold higher mortality than oral BPs (women HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.13-1.98; men HR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.82-4.11) but similar mortality to Zol. Dmab in women and oral BPs were associated with lower post-fracture mortality than no treatment. However, Dmab users had generally higher mortality than oral BP users in those without fractures. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Cardiovascular Safety in Postmenopausal Women and Men With Osteoporosis Treated With Denosumab and Zoledronic Acid: A Post-Authorization Safety Study.

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are common in older adults. Treatment of osteoporosis reduces the burden of debilitating fractures; however, it is important to understand the benefit versus risk of treatment. This study evaluates the risk of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and myocardial infarction (MI) among postmenopausal women and men initiating osteoporosis treatment with denosumab (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand [RANKL] inhibitor) or zoledronic acid (bisphosphonate) between October 2010 and June 2019. A retrospective cohort study employing the new user/active comparator design was conducted. Analyses were conducted separately in two national US commercial databases, MarketScan® and Optum® for reproducibility. Inverse probability of treatment and censoring weighting was employed to control for confounding and informative censoring. Cumulative risks at 6-month, 12-month, and 36-month time points were calculated and adjusted risk ratios and differences (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were estimated. In MarketScan® and Optum® databases, 96,611 and 73,127 patients met all study eligibility criteria, respectively. At 36 months, the risk ratio estimates (zoledronic acid referent group) were 1.22 (95% CI, 0.77-1.66) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.63-1.32) for MI and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.61-1.40) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.56-1.17) for stroke in MarketScan and Optum, respectively. Most of the treatment associations across the other time periods and outcomes also had 95% CIs including the null value. In these large samples of real-world US patients, no increased risk in MI and stroke were identified for up to 36 months of treatment in denosumab users compared with zoledronic acid users. © 2023 Amgen. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Prevalence of Precursory Signs of Atypical Femoral Fractures in Patients Receiving Bone-Modifying Agents for Bone Metastases: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Patients on bone-modifying agents (BMAs) for bone metastases are at risk of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs), which can lead to a sudden deterioration in performance status. In this study, we sought to determine the prevalence of radiographic precursory signs of AFF in patients on oncologic BMAs. Forty-two patients (23 men, 19 women; mean age 68.8 ± 10.0 years) on oncologic BMAs (zoledronate for >3 years and/or denosumab for >1 year) and without clinical symptoms were enrolled between 2019 and 2021. All patients were receiving denosumab at enrollment and 5 had previously used zoledronate. The mean duration of BMA use was 31.2 ± 18.5 months. Radiographs of both femurs were screened for precursory signs of AFF (e.g., thickening of the lateral cortex). The patients were divided into two groups according to thickening status and compared by duration of BMA use. They were also divided into three groups by duration of BMA use (12-23 months, n = 18; 24-59 months, n = 19; ≥60 months, n = 5), and the prevalence of apparent thickenings was examined. As a result, 18 patients (42.9%) showed minute local or diffuse thickening and 10 (23.8%) showed apparent local thickening. The duration of BMA use was significantly longer in patients with apparent thickening than in those without (47.3 ± 23.6 months [n = 10] versus 26.2 ± 13.5 months [n = 32]; p < 0.05). The prevalence of apparent thickening increased with increasing duration of BMA use (12-23 months, 5.6%; 24-59 months, 31.6%; ≥60 months, 60.0%). In conclusion, radiographic precursory signs of AFF are common in patients on oncologic BMAs. Radiographic screening for AFF could be relevant in patients who have been on long-term oncologic BMAs, even if asymptomatic. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Intermittent parathyroid hormone enhances the healing of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw lesions in rice rats.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a potentially severe adverse event in patients treated with antiresorptives. Management of MRONJ is challenging, and no non-antibiotic, established medical treatment exists. Intermittent parathyroid hormone (iPTH) has been used off-label to treat MRONJ with favorable results. However, its medical efficacy has rarely been substantiated in clinical or preclinical experiments. Using a validated rice rat, infection-based model of MRONJ, we evaluated the effects of iPTH on established MRONJ. We hypothesize that iPTH contributes to MRONJ resolution by enhancing alveolar bone turnover and healing oral soft tissues. Eighty-four rice rats began a standard rodent chow diet at age 4 weeks to induce localized periodontitis. Rats were simultaneously randomized to receive saline (vehicle, VEH) or zoledronic acid (ZOL, 80 µg/kg IV) every 4 weeks. Oral exams were conducted bi-weekly to assign a gross quadrant grade (GQG, 0-4) to evaluate any lesion at the lingual aspect of the interdental space between maxillary molar (M2) and M3. 14 of 20 VEH-treated rice rats (70%) developed maxillary localized periodontitis with GQG 2-3 after 30 ± 10 weeks of saline. Additionally, 40 of 64 ZOL-treated rice rats with periodontitis developed MRONJ-like lesions after 30 ± 10 weeks of ZOL treatment. Rice rats with localized periodontitis or MRONJ-like lesions were treated with saline or iPTH (40 µg/kg) subcutaneously (SC) 3 times/week For 6 weeks until euthanasia. We found that iPTH -treated ZOL rats had a lower prevalence of MRONJ (p < 0.001), with lower severity extent of oral lesions (p = 0.003) and percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae (p < 0.001). ZOL rats treated with iPTH displayed a higher osteoblast surface (p < 0.001), more osteoblasts (p < 0.001), higher osteoclast surface (p < 0.001) and more osteoclasts (p = 0.002) at alveolar bone surfaces than ZOL/VEH rats. Greater gingival epithelial thickness and epithelial cell proliferation rate was found in the oral mucosa and gingiva of ZOL/PTH rats than in ZOL/VEH rats (p < 0.001). Our data suggest that iPTH is an efficacious non-operative medicinal therapy that accelerates oral healing and enhances the resolution of MRONJ lesions in ZOL-treated rice rats.

No Effect of NSAID Use on Efficacy of Zoledronate: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Trial in Osteopenic Older Women.

Bisphosphonates are widely used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also widely used among the older population group at high risk of fractures. NSAIDs have been shown to impact on bone turnover, and a recent reanalysis of a clinical trial of clodronate found that NSAID use at baseline abrogated any effect of clodronate on either bone density (BMD) or fracture risk. To determine whether NSAIDs influence the efficacy of other bisphosphonates, we have reanalyzed our 6-year randomized controlled trial of zoledronate in 2000 osteopenic postmenopausal women. NSAID use was reported at baseline in 38% of the cohort and anytime use was reported by 65%. The evolution of the zoledronate effects on BMD were almost identical whether or not women were using NSAIDs at baseline and were significant in both subgroups at all BMD sites (p < 0.0001). The significant reduction in the risk of fracture in those allocated to zoledronate (p < 0.0001) showed no interaction with baseline use of NSAIDs (p = 0.33) nor with NSAID use at any time during the study (p = 0.28). The odds of fracture were significantly reduced in both NSAID users and nonusers. We conclude that the present analysis provides no support for the suggestion that NSAIDs interfere with the efficacy of potent bisphosphonates in terms of their effects on bone density or fracture. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).