J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2005 Apr;29(2):187-192.

The Increment of Bone Density in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury after Alendronate Therapy

• Seo JH
• Lee RJ
• Ko MH
• Park SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of bone mineral density (BMD) according to the postinjury duration, walking ability, and to assess the effect of oral alendronate therapy on BMD and biochemical markers in patients with spinal cord injury. METHOD: Forty-eight subjects with spinal cord injury were enrolled. One tablet of Alend(R) (10 mg of sodium alendronate) was administered daily for 6 months. After this, all subjects received placebo for 6 months as the same manner. The baseline quantitative assessments of BMD and biochemical bone markers, serum osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), were performed before the administration of drug. The follow up assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months after drug and placebo administration. RESULTS: The patients treated with oral alendronate showed significantly higher BMD of femur compared with baseline (p <0.05). Also, ICTP showed significant reduction after alendronate therapy. BMD change rate of alendronate therapy was higher in functional ambulation group compared with wheelchair ambulation group. BMD change rate of alendronate therapy was higher than that of placebo administration. CONCLUSION: Alendronate therapy may be useful in prevention of loss of BMD after spinal cord injury.

Keyword

Alendronate; Spinal cord injury; Bone mineral density; Biochemical bone marker

MeSH Terms

Alendronate*
Biomarkers
Bone Density*
Collagen Type I
Femur
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Osteocalcin
Sodium
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*
Walking
Wheelchairs
Alendronate
Collagen Type I
Osteocalcin
Sodium