[Alendronate-induced esophagitis. A report of 2 cases]

Two cases of esophagitis associated with the use of alendronate are described. Both patients were women with no past history of heartburn or dyspepsia, who started alendronate for postmenopausal osteoporosis at least one week before the symptoms onset, by taking the drug with half a glass of tap water at bedtime. The first patient suffered from a severe chest pain; endoscopy showed confluent erosions of the lower third of the esophagus. The second patient had odynophagia and developed exudates and greyish plaques on the mucosa of the upper third of the esophagus. Histological examination of the esophageal specimens of both patients disclosed no Monilia, hyphae, or nuclear viral inclusions. Both patients stopped alendronate with complete recovery at follow-up. A brief review of the etiopathogenesis of pill esophagitis is also presented. Finally, emphasis is placed on the selection of patients for therapy with alendronate with warnings on how to take the drug correctly.