To evaluate the efficacy and safety of risedronate sodium in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, one-year randomized, double blind clinical trial was performed among 54 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The changes were compared in bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism markers and adverse events after 12 months oral administration of risedronate sodium. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptionmetry (DEXA) and bone turnover marker was detected. The results showed that there was a significant increase in BMD of the lumbar spine (3.29% +/- 1.18%, 4.51% +/- 1.64% respectively) after 6 and 12 months in the risedronate treatment group versus placebo control group (-0.62% +/- 0.24%, 0.48% +/- 0.18% respectively). Bone turnover was decreased to a stable nadir over 6 and 12 months for resorption markers [N-Telopeptide (NTx), P < 0.05] and over 12 months for formation marker (ALP, P < 0.05; BGP, P < 0.05). The safety profile of risedronate sodium was similar to that of placebo. There were no trends toward increased frequency of any adverse experience except for gastrointestinal symptoms (7.1%), rash (7.1%) and hematuria (3.6%), which were usually mild, transient, and resolved with continued treatment. It was concluded that risedronate was an efficacious and safe drug in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase/drug effects ; Bone Density ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/adverse effects ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Etidronic Acid/adverse effects ; Etidronic Acid/*analogs & derivatives ; Etidronic Acid/therapeutic use ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy ; Safety

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.
Spinal Fractures/prevention & control/radiography ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*drug effects ; Humans ; Female ; Etidronic Acid/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Bone Density/*drug effects ; Biological Markers/blood/urine ; Back Pain/drug therapy ; Alendronate/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged