Effects of disodium dichloromethylene diphosphonate on bone loss in paraplegic patients

21 paraplegic patients with recent traumatic spinal cord injury were orally administered 400 (n = 7) or 1,600 (n = 7) mg/d of disodium dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) and compared with a placebo group (n = 7) to test the preventive effects of the drug on acute bone loss and osteoclastic resorption. Cl2MDP therapy was initiated at a mean of 17.6 d after the onset of paraplegia. The study lasted at least 6 mo, consisting of a 3.5-mo treatment period, and a variable follow-up period. The effects of Cl2MDP were assessed by blood and urine biochemistry, bone histomorphometry on transilial samples, photon absorptiometry of the tibia and fibula, and radiomorphometry of the femur. The elevation in serum and urinary calcium and in urine hydroxyproline observed in the placebo group did not appear under treatment. With both doses of Cl2MDP there was no further decrease in the bone mineral content. In the treated groups, a smaller percentage increase in osteoclastic population was also noted when compared with the placebo group, but this difference was not significant. There was no mineralization defect induced by Cl2MDP, as shown by tetracycline double labeling. It thus appears that at doses ranging between 400 and 1,600 mg, given as early as possible, Cl2MDP can prevent or reduce the development of the acute bone loss of paraplegic patients, without adverse side effects, though it does not prevent the development of heterotopic ossification.