Oral bisphosphonate use increases the risk for inflammatory jaw disease: a cohort study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to address whether among people living in Denmark, those treated with medications to prevent osteoporosis have an increased risk for inflammatory jaw disease compared with those not treated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A historical cohort study was designed to compare the rate of inflammatory jaw-related events, ie, osteomyelitis, osteitis, periostitis, or sequestrum, between Danish patients who had been prescribed oral bisphosphonates (BP) and other drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis between 1996 and 2006 (the exposed group), and a random sample of the Danish population drawn from a nationwide registry who had not been prescribed oral BPs or other medications to treat osteoporosis (the nonexposed group). The nonexposed subjects were age- and gender-matched to the exposed subjects and randomly drawn from the general population at a ratio of 3 non-BP subjects to 1 BP subject. The primary explanatory variable was oral BP exposure status. Associations between BP treatment and inflammatory jaw events were ascertained using hazard ratios (HR) Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 103,562 index subjects and 310,683 control subjects. After adjusting for other factors, including diabetes and chemotherapy, alendronate (HR = 3.15, 95% confidence interval 1.44-6.87) and etidronate (HR = 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.15-4.31) were associated with an increased risk for inflammatory jaw events. There was no association between oral BP dose and risk for inflammatory jaw events. CONCLUSION: The oral BPs alendronate and etidronate were associated with an increased risk for inflammatory jaw events.

[Treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome].

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment modality for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Surgical treatment of OSAS can include functional nasal surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, transoral robotic surgery, maxillo-mandibular advancement (MMA) and bariatric surgery. MMA should be considered in patients with moderate to severe OSAS, if CPAP treatment is ineffective or not tolerated, as well in patients with failure of previous sleep surgery or in patients with severe dentofacial anomalies. In this review, we stress, that multidisciplinary management between sleep medicine clinicians and surgeons is crucial.

Gastric and esophagus events before and during treatment of osteoporosis.

Prior studies have indicated an excess risk of gastroduodenal ulcers and esophagus perforations with the use of bisphosphonates. However, little is known about the contribution of comorbid conditions and concomitant drug use on this risk. We studied the risk of esophagus and gastric events in patients on a wide range of drugs against osteoporosis both before and after initiation of these drugs. We studied a nationwide register-based cohort from Denmark with all users of drugs against osteoporosis between 1996 and 2006 (n = 103,562) as cases and three age- and sex-matched controls from the general population (n = 310,683). In a crude analysis, most drugs were already associated with an increased risk of esophagitis, esophageal ulcerations, or esophageal perforations or gastroduodenal ulcers before initiation of the drugs. Upon adjustment, this excess risk disappeared for most drugs except parathyroid hormone and its analogues, etidronate and clodronate. Only for etidronate, alendronate, and raloxifene were sufficient data present for events after initiation of the drugs, and for these, an increased risk was present for all events except gastroduodenal ulcers with raloxifene. Several drugs against osteoporosis are associated with an increased risk of esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, esophageal perforation, and gastroduodenal ulcers. However, the increase was already present before initiation of the drug for several types of drugs against osteoporosis. This points at an effect of the underlying condition being treated or comorbid conditions and drugs being provided in patients with osteoporosis, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids.

Risk of atrial fibrillation associated with use of bisphosphonates and other drugs against osteoporosis: a cohort study.

We studied the association between bisphosphonate use and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter and the effect of confounders such as heart and lung disease in a nationwide retrospective cohort from Denmark. All users of bisphosphonates and other drugs against osteoporosis between 1996 and 2006 (n = 103,562) were the exposed group and three age- and gender-matched controls from the general population (n = 310,683) were the nonexposed group. The main outcome measure was atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Before initiation of treatment against osteoporosis, no excess of atrial fibrillation or flutter was present for any drug except for etidronate (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.15-1.29). After initiation of treatment, raloxifene was not associated with any excess risk of atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.72-1.33). Etidronate (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14) and alendronate (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.20) were associated with an excess risk of atrial fibrillation after treatment start if statistical adjustments were made for cardiovascular disease. However, this association disappeared upon statistical adjustment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (etidronate HR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.98-1.10; alendronate HR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.96-1.15). In patients using etidronate (12.5% vs. 3.8%) and alendronate (11.4% vs. 4.6%) major differences were present in prevalence of COPD at start of treatment compared to matched controls. In conclusion, oral bisphosphonates do not seem to be associated with an excess risk of atrial fibrillation. Any excess risk seen in prior studies may be due to confounding from COPD.

Skeletal Stability after Large Mandibular Advancement (> 10 mm) with Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy and Skeletal Elastic Intermaxillary Fixation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the skeletal stability after large mandibular advancement (> 10 mm) with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and skeletal elastic intermaxillary fixation and to correlate the skeletal stability with the vertical facial type. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 33 consecutive patients underwent bimaxillary surgery to correct skeletal Class II malocclusion with a mandibular advancement (> 10 mm) measured at B-point and postoperative skeletal elastic intermaxillary fixation for 16 weeks. Skeletal stability was evaluated using lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained preoperative (T1), 8 weeks postoperatively (T2), and 18 month postoperatively (T3). B-point and pogonion (Pog) was used to measure the skeletal relapse and the mandibular plane angle (MP-angle) was used to determine the vertical facial type. RESULTS: The mean advancement from T1 to T2 were 11.6 mm and 13.5 mm at B-point and Pog, respectively. The mean skeletal relapse from T2 to T3 was -1.3 mm at B-point and -1.6 mm at Pog. The nineteen patients characterized as long facial types, showed the highest amount of skeletal relapse (-1.5 mm at B-point and -1.9 mm at Pog). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed a limited amount of skeletal relapse in large mandibular advancement (> 10 mm) with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and skeletal elastic intermaxillary fixation. Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy in combination with skeletal intermaxillary fixation can therefore be an alternative to distraction osteogenesis in large mandibular advancements.

Presence and consequence of tooth periapical radiolucency in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Periapical radiolucency is the radiographic sign of inflammatory bone lesions around the apex of the tooth. We determined the prevalence and predictors of periapical radiolucency in patients with cirrhosis and the association with systemic inflammation status and cirrhosis-related complications. METHODS: A total of 110 cirrhosis patients were consecutively enrolled. Periapical radiolucency was defined as the presence of radiolucency or widening of the periapical periodontal ligament space to more than twice the normal width. Predictors of periapical radiolucency and the association with systemic inflammation markers and cirrhosis-related complications were explored by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Periapical radiolucency was present in one or more teeth in 46% of the patients. Strong predictors were gross caries (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-6.79) and severe periodontitis (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.04-15.20). Also old age (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.19) and smoking (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.02-17.62) were predictors. However, cirrhosis etiology (alcoholic vs nonalcoholic) or severity (Model of End-Stage Liver Disease score) were not predictors. The patients with periapical radiolucency had higher C-reactive protein (15.8 mg/L vs 8.1 mg/L, P=0.02) and lower albumin contents (25 g/L vs 28 g/L, P=0.04) than those without. Furthermore, the patients with periapical radiolucency had a higher prevalence of cirrhosis-related complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and/or variceal bleeding (46% vs 27%, P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Periapical radiolucency is often present as an element of poor oral health status and likely has an adverse clinical significance, which should motivate diagnostic and clinical attention to the findings.