Utilidad del tratamiento secuencial con teriparatide y denosumab en la osteoporosis de alto riesgo: nuestra experiencia asistencial / Benefits of sequential treatment of high risk osteoporosis with teripartide and denosumab: our experience

El tratamiento de las formas graves de osteoporosis representa un desafío en la práctica asistencial. Reportamos tres pacientes con formas graves de osteoporosis tratadas en el Instituto de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Metabólicas con un esquema secuencial de teriparatide 20 µg/día durante 18 meses, seguidos de 12 meses de denosumab 60 mg semestral. Luego de 18 meses de tratamiento con teriparatide la densidad mineral ósea en columna aumentó 5,86±1,01% y en cuello femoral 1,92±3,10%; al finalizar los doce meses de tratamiento con denosumab se constató un aumento total en columna de 10,45±1,70% y en cuello femoral 9,28±3,86%. El tratamiento con teriparatide se acompañó de un aumento en los niveles plasmáticos de telopéptidos del colágeno óseo (CTX) y en el período de tratamiento con denosumab dichos valores disminuyeron de manera significativa, mostrando el impacto de estos fármacos sobre el remodelado óseo. Concluimos que el tratamiento secuencial con teriparatide y denosumab en dosis convencionales resultó beneficioso en las tres pacientes tratadas. Sería de utilidad ampliar esta experiencia en un trabajo prospectivo. (AU)

High risk osteoporosis treatment is a challenge in daily medical practice. We report three patients that attended our institution with severe osteoporosis who received sequentially teriparatide (20 ug daily) for eighteen months followed by denosumab (60 mg every six months) for twelve months. After teriparatide treatment bone mineral density increased 5.86±1.01% at lumbar spine and 1.92±3.10 % at femoral neck, while after denosumab it continued increasing to reach a total of 10.45±1.70% at lumbar spine and 9.28±3.86% at femoral neck. Teriparatide treatment increased bone resorption evidenced by high serum CTX while after denosumab it fell abruptly, showing the impact of these two drugs on bone turnover. We conclude that sequential treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in approved doses was beneficial for these three patients. Prospective studies are needed. (AU)

The Effect of Zoledronic Acid on the Volume of the Fusion-Mass in Lumbar Spinal Fusion

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the effects of bisphosphonates on bony healing in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Most previous studies used animal models and found that bisphosphonate shows negative effects on spinal fusion consolidation. We intended to evaluate the effect of a single-dose of zoledronic acid on the volume of the fusion-mass in lumbar spinal fusion. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out on 44 patients with symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent one or two-level posterolateral fusion from January 2008 and January 2011. They were divided into 4 groups: group 1, autograft and zoledronic acid; group 2, allograft and zoledronic acid; group 3, autograft alone; and group 4, allograft alone. Functional radiography and three-dimensional computed tomography scans were used to evaluate and quantify the volume of the fusion-mass. The visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the short form 36 (SF-36) were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The mean volume of the fusion-mass per level was 8,814 mm3, 8,035 mm3, 8,383 mm3, and 7,550 mm3 in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, but there were no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.829). There were no significant decreases in the volume of the fusion-mass (p = 0.533) in the zoledronic acid groups (groups 1 and 2). The VAS, the ODI, and the SF-36 at the 6-month follow-up after surgery were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the 4 groups. The VAS, the ODI, and the SF-36 were not correlated with the volume of the fusion-mass (p = 0.120, 0.609, 0.642). CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of zoledronic acid does not decrease the volume of the fusion-mass in patients undergoing spinal fusion with osteoporosis. Therefore, we recommend that zoledronic acid may be used after spinal fusion in osteoporotic patients.

The Influence of Exogenous Fat and Water on Lumbar Spine Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Volunteers

PURPOSE: Changes in human body composition can affect the accuracy of spine bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether fat and water in the soft tissue of the abdomen influence lumbar spine BMD measurements obtained using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Duplicate BMD measurements were carried out on healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women) and the Hologic anthropomorphic spine phantom had on the same day before and after placement of following 3 materials in the abdominal area: lard 900 g, 1.5 cm thick; oil 1.4 liters in a vinyl bag; and water 1.2 liters in a vinyl bag. RESULTS: In the case of human participants, following the placement of exogenous water to mimic extracellular fluid (ECF), there was a significant decrease in lumbar spine BMD (-0.012 g/cm2, p=0.006), whereas the placement of exogenous lard and oil to mimic abdominal fat produced a slight increase in lumbar spine BMD (0.006 g/cm2, p=0.301; 0.008 g/cm2, p=0.250, respectively). The average percentage of lumbar spine BMD change with and without exogenous lard, oil, and water showed increase of 0.51%, and 0.67%, and decrease of 1.02%, respectively. Using the phantom, BMD decreased with the placement of both lard (-0.002 g/cm2, p=0.699) and water (-0.006 g/cm2, p=0.153); however, there was no difference in BMD after oil placement. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in cases where changes in fat and ECF volume are similar, ECF exerts a greater influence than fat on DXA lumbar BMD measurements.

Effects of D-003 (10 mg/day) on Bone Mineral Density of the Lumbar Spine and Femoral Neck in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increased osteoclast activity is a pivotal finding in osteoporosis. This increase is mediated via the mevalonate-to-cholesterol pathway, which is involved in producing the intermediates required for osteoclast activity. D-003, a mixture of high molecular weight sugarcane wax acids, has been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis prior to mevalonate production, resulting in a reduction of bone loss and resorption in ovariectomized rats. Moreover, previous studies have demonstrated that short-term D-003 treatment reduces urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline/creatinine in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We performed a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to investigate the effects of D-003 (10 mg/day) treatment for 3 years on bone mineral density (BMD) in 83 postmenopausal women with low BMD. RESULTS: Over 3 years, D-003 treatment increased lumbar spine BMD (5.1%, p < 0.01) and improved osteoporosis-related quality of life scores as compared with placebo-treated controls. D-003 was also well tolerated; the frequency of adverse events in the bone, joints, or muscle with D-003 treatment (p < 0.05) was lower than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: D-003 treatment (10 mg/day) for 3 years increased lumbar spine BMD and produced clinical improvements in postmenopausal women with low BMD. Further studies, however, will be required to confirm these results.

The use of PTH in the treatment of osteoporosis / Uso do PTH no tratamento da osteoporose

Anabolic drugs have recently widened therapeutic options in osteoporosis treatment, as they influence processes associated with bone formation to a greater extent and earlier than bone reabsortion. They positively affect a number of skeletal properties besides bone density, as intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) results in an increase in the number and activity of osteoblasts leading to an increase in bone mass and improvement in skeletal architecture at both the trabecular and cortical bone. Human recombinant parathyroid hormone (hrPTH 1-84) and human recombinant PTH peptide 1-34 (teriparatide) belong to this group. The objective of this paper is to review PTH actions, benefits and adverse effects, action on biochemical markers, combination therapy with antiresorptive agents, impact of antiresorptive therapy prior to anabolic treatment, sequential treatment, and effect on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

As drogas anabólicas ampliaram recentemente as opções terapêuticas no tratamento da osteo-porose e influenciam em maior escala os processos relacionados com a formação óssea, que ocorrem antes do efeito na reabsorção. Essas drogas afetam um grande número de propriedades esqueléticas, além da densidade mineral óssea. A administração intermitente de PTH leva a um aumento do número e atividade dos osteoblastos, ocasionando aumento da massa óssea e melhora da arquitetura, tanto do osso trabecular quanto cortical. O paratormônio recombinante humano (hrPTH 1-84) e o peptídeo recombinante humano 1-34 (teriparatide) pertencem a esse grupo de agentes. O objetivo deste artigo é revisar as ações, os benefícios e os efeitos adversos do PTH, assim como sua ação nos marcadores bioquímicos do metabolismo ósseo, a terapia combinada com drogas antirreabsortivas, o impacto do uso dos antirreabsortivos antes do tratamento anabólico, o tratamento sequencial e o tratamento da osteoporose induzida por glicocorticoides.

Tratamiento de osteogénesis imperfecta con bisfosfonatos / Treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta with bisphosphonates

El tratamiento con bisfosfonatos (BP), ha mejorado la calidad de vida de los pacientes con osteogénesis imperfecta (OI). Los efectos benéficos son el alivio del dolor, la reducción de la incidencia de fracturas, la mejor movilidad corporal y la recuperación en las formas vertebrales. El tratamiento es más efectivo durante el período de crecimiento. Se presenta una actualización del tema. De la lectura de los anales se destacan los siguientes interrogantes: ¿Por cuánto tiempo deberá instituirse el tratamiento? ¿Es la vía oral tan efectiva como la endovenosa? ¿Cuál es la mejor dosis? ¿Cuándo suspender el tratamiento? ¿Se conservará la integridad del tejido óseo después de un tratamiento prolongado? ¿Qué fenómenos ocurren en el tejido óseo después de la interrupción de la terapia?.

Treatment with bisphosphonates (BP) improves the quality of life of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Beneficial effects are the relief of bone pain, a reduction of fracture incidence, improvement of corporal mobility and recovery of normal vertebral form. Treatment is less effective after completion of growth is here. An update of the literature is here presented. A number of important unsolved questions have been pointed out: for how long should treatment be instituted? Is the oral route as effective as the intravenous one? Which is the best dose? When treatment should be stopped? How well preserved is the longterm integrity of the bones? Which are the phenomena occurring in bone tissue after interruption of therapy?.

Espondilodiscitis y absceso epidural candidiásico / Candida spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess

Candida spondylodiscitis associatd with epidural abscess is rarely seen. We present a patient with Hodgkin lymphoma who received chemotherapy and developed systemic Candida infection, which was complicated by Candida spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess

Candida spondylodiscitis associatd with epiduralabscess is rarely seen. We present a patient with Hodgkin lymphoma who received chemotherapyand developed systemic Candida infection, which was complicated by Candida spondylodiscitis and epiduralabscess

Comparison of Effect of Treatment with Etidronate and Alendronate on Lumbar Bone Mineral Density in Elderly Women with Osteoporosis

The purpose of this open-labeled prospective study was to compare the treatment effects of cyclical etidronate and alendronate on the lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), bone resorption, and back pain in elderly women with osteoporosis. Fifty postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, age ranging from 55 to 86 years (mean: 70.7 years), were randomly divided into two groups with 25 patients in each group: the cyclical etidronate group (etidronate 200 mg daily for 2 weeks every 3 months) and the alendronate group (5 mg daily). The BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) measured by DXA, the urinary cross-linked N-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (NTX) level measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and back pain evaluated by the face scale score were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics including age, body mass index, years since menopause, lumbar BMD, urinary NTX level, and face scale score between the two treatment groups. Etidronate treatment sustained the lumbar BMD following a reduction in the urinary NTX level and improved back pain, while alendronate treatment reduced the urinary NTX level more significantly, resulting in an increase in the lumbar BMD, and similarly improved back pain. No serious adverse events were observed in either group. This study confirmed that alendronate treatment had a greater efficacy than etidronate treatment in increasing the lumbar BMD through the reduction of bone resorption in elderly women with osteoporosis.