A double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study of tiludronate in Paget's disease of bone

A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic activity and sustained efficacy of tiludronate (200 mg, 400 mg and 600 mg once daily) taken orally for 12 weeks in patients with Paget's disease. Serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations were compared with baseline at weeks 12 and 24; treatment success was defined as a 50% reduction compared with baseline. Changes in the hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio were also measured. Pain was assessed using the Huskisson Visual Analogue Scale and by questionnaire. Patients completing at least 11 weeks of treatment were followed-up 18 months later by postal questionnaire. Significantly greater numbers of patients in the tiludronate groups successfully responded to treatment compared with the placebo group. A dose-response was observed; the percentage of patients responding to treatment being 31% (200 mg), 52% (400 mg) and 82% (600 mg) at week 12 and 45% (200 mg), 70% (400 mg) and 82% (600 mg) at week 24. Tiludronate treatment also significantly reduced hydroxyproline: creatinine ratios compared with placebo, again showing a dose response. Dose-related gastrointestinal symptoms were the commonest adverse events, occurring in 2.4%, 11.0%, 5.5% and 18.9% of patients receiving placebo and tiludronate 200, 400 and 600 mg daily, respectively. The response to oral tiludronate was sustained for more than 18 months in some patients and there was evidence of a reduction in the longer term complications of the disease. These results show that oral tiludronate is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for Paget's disease; the 400 mg once daily dose appears to offer the optimum balance of efficacy and tolerance.