[Bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw]

Since 2003, reports have been published on necrosis of the jaw bones possibly being associated with the administration of bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates are highly active inhibitors of osteoclasts which have been used prophylactically or symptomatically in the treatment of plasmocytoma, bone metastasis of malignant disease, tumor-associated hypercalcaemia and in the treatment of osteoporosis. Due to the importance of this side effect of bisphosphonates, we report six cases.

Six patients (two women and four men) with a median age of 69 years (range 55-37) were diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the maxilla and/or mandible. These osteonecroses did not react adequately to local treatment and systemic therapy with antibiotics. Four patients suffered from plasmocytoma and two patients had a history of metastasising breast cancer. Besides cytostatic chemotherapies, all patients received bisphosphonates over an extended period.

Bisphosphonates are considered an important standard in the treatment of plasmocytoma and bone metastasis due to malignancies. Since 2003, several reports have been published describing patients in whom therapy resistant osteonecrosis of jaw bones occurred either after dental extractions or spontaneously. Until then, unknown side effects of bisphosphonate therapy had been suspected. Since patients with malignant diseases receive cytostatic therapy and a range of other drugs, including bisphosphonates, enhancement of the side effects may be presumed.

The probable association of the therapeutic use of bisphosphonates and the occurence of jaw bone necrosis has to be studied in further investigations. Patients receiving bisphosphonates should be followed-up regularly to avoid the occurrence of extended osteonecrotic lesions, which should be diagnosed early and treated adequately.