Alternative use of bisphosphonate therapy for rheumatic disease

Bisphosphonates are widely use for pathologies such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease or bone metastasis. However, their potent antiresorptive properties open new therapeutic opportunities for other conditions associated with an increased focal or systemic bone remodelling. Moreover, apart from their antiresorptive activity, bisphosphonates could also have others properties through a specific analgesic or anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthritis or SAPHO syndrome (acronym for synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis) that are associated with systemic and sometimes focal bone loss could be good candidates for bisphosphonate therapy. Other non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases like bone osteonecrosis, algodystrophy, fibrous dysplasia or neuropathic osteoarthropathy are also associated with pain and an increase of focal bone remodelling. Several studies have shown that bisphosphonate could have promising therapeutic potential in these inflammatory or non-inflammatory diseases where therapeutic options are usually few. This review will focus on the new potential alternative indications for bisphosphonate in rheumatic diseases.