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Bisphosphonate therapy for children and adolescents with secondary osteoporosis
1Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Rd., Research Institute, R250H, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L1. lward@cheo.on.ca
Insights
Bisphosphonates show potential for treating pediatric secondary osteoporosis, but more research is needed to establish their efficacy and safety as standard therapy. Short-term use appears well-tolerated in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Children with chronic illnesses face increased risk of osteoporosis due to underlying conditions or medications like glucocorticoids.
- Bisphosphonates are increasingly used for secondary osteoporosis in children, but their effectiveness and safety are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonate therapy for treating and preventing secondary osteoporosis in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science) up to December 2006.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials, cohort, and case-control studies involving children aged 0-18 with secondary osteoporosis.
- Independent data extraction and quality assessment by two reviewers; case series used for harms data.
Main Results:
- Included six RCTs, two CCTs, and one prospective cohort study (n=281 children) investigating bisphosphonates (oral alendronate, clodronate, IV pamidronate).
- Heterogeneity prevented statistical combination of results; some studies showed no significant difference in bone mineral density (BMD), while one indicated a treatment effect with IV pamidronate in burn patients.
- Frequently reported adverse events included acute phase reactions, gastrointestinal issues, and bone/muscle pain.
Conclusions:
- Further research on bisphosphonates for pediatric secondary osteoporosis is warranted, but they are not yet supported as standard therapy.
- Short-term bisphosphonate use (≤3 years) appears well-tolerated in children.
- Standardized criteria for pediatric osteoporosis, BMD reporting, and functional bone health outcomes are needed for better study comparisons.
Background:
Children with chronic illnesses are at increased risk for reductions in bone strength and subsequent fractures (osteoporosis), either due to the impact of the underlying condition on skeletal development or due to the osteotoxic effect of medications (e.g., glucocorticoids) used to treat the chronic illness. Bisphosphonates are being administered with increasing frequency to children with secondary osteoporosis; however, the efficacy and harm of these agents remains unclear.
Objectives:
To examine the efficacy and harm of bisphosphonate therapy in the treatment and prevention of secondary osteoporosis in children and adolescents.
Search Strategy:
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 4, 2006), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and ISI Web of Science (inception-December 2006). Further literature was identified through expert contact, key author searches, scanning reference lists of included studies, and contacting bisphosphonate manufacturers.
Selection Criteria:
Randomized, quasi-randomized, controlled clinical trials, cohort, and case controls of bisphosphonate(s) in children 0-18 years of age with at least one low-trauma fracture event or reductions in bone mineral density in the context of secondary osteoporosis.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed quality. Case series were used for supplemental harms-related data.
Main Results:
Six RCTs, two CCTs, and one prospective cohort (n=281 children) were included and classified into osteoporosis due to: 1) neuromuscular conditions (one RCT) and 2) chronic illness (five RCTs, two CCTs, one cohort). Bisphosphonates examined were oral alendronate, clodronate, and intravenous (IV) pamidronate. Study quality varied. Harms data from 23 case series (n=241 children) were used. Heterogeneity precluded statistically combining the results. Percent change or Z-score change in lumbar spine areal BMD from baseline were consistently reported. Two studies carried out between-group analyses; one showed no significant difference (using oral alendronate in anorexia nervosa) while the other demonstrated a treatment effect on lumbar spine with IV pamidronate in burn patients. Frequently reported harms included the acute phase reaction, followed by gastrointestinal complaints, and bone/muscle pain.
Authors' Conclusions:
The results justify further evaluation of bisphosphonates among children with secondary osteoporosis. However, the evidence does not support bisphosphonates as standard therapy. Short-term (3 years or less) bisphosphonate use appears to be well-tolerated. An accepted criterion for osteoporosis in children, a standardized approach to BMD reporting, and examining functional bone health outcomes (e.g., fracture rates) will allow for appropriate comparisons across studies.
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