Efficacy of Once-Yearly Intravenous Zoledronic Acid for Osteopenia

Sung, Chang Ho; Seo, Wan Sik; Park, Ye Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To assess the clinical efficacy of once-yearly treatment with Zoledronic acid in patients with osteopenia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From June 2009 to November 2011, patients diagnosed with osteopenia were applied to fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). Among them, 40 patients who showed high possibility of osteoporotic fracture were selected and treated with intravenous zoledronic acid once-yearly. At the baseline and after one year of injection of zoledronate, we measured the changes in the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers In addition, we analyzed the side effects and thereby assessed the drug safety.
RESULTS
Mean 10 year probability of fracture calculated by FRAX tool was 4.2+/-1.8% for hip fracture, and 17.7+/-4.3% for other major osteoporotic fracture. Mean T-score was -1.89+/-0.42 at baseline and -1.71+/-+/-0.54 at 1 year after treatment. But this differences did not reachstatistical significance (P>0.05). Mean C-telopeptide levels were 0.35+/-+/-0.32 ng/mL and 0.22+/-+/-0.16 ng/mL, , mean osteocalcin levels were 13.64+/-5.15 ng/mL and 11.7+/-6.02 ng/mL before and after treatment. These differences reached a statistical significance (P<0.001). During the treatment, there were no serious adverse effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Once-yearly treatment with Zoledronic acid was effective in reducing bone resorption in patients with osteopenia. In addition, the BMD levels were slightly increased. But this was not statistically significant. Further long-term follow-up studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of a once-yearly treatment with Zoledronic acid in patients with osteopenia.