Warning over bone loss with long-term bisphosphonates
Doctors should avoid giving the medication preventatively to younger patients because it can bone tissue, says researcher
Patients on bisphosphonates need to be monitored after 3-5 years, and caution is needed in treating younger women with the medications, a review says.
Treatment with bisphosphonates for 1-3 years increases bone mineral density, strength and stiffness of lumbar vertebrae in compression but has little effect on the properties of diaphyseal bone, say the review led by Dr David Burr (PhD) of Indiana University, US.
The review found the energy required to fracture vertebrae and cortical bone of the ribs declined with treatment duration, which suggested that tissue properties might become impaired.
During the long-term, true fracture mechanics tests suggested that cortical bone toughness declined by about 20% or more.
