Bisphosphonate use in osteoporotic children 'should be limited'
Doctors should limit the use of bisphosphonates in children with osteoporosis, according to a review published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Researchers from Stanford University and the University of Ottawa went over previous studies on the effect of bisphosphonates on osteoporotic children.
Reports on bisphosphonate agents and doses, disease duration and duration of therapy for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta in children were reviewed.
"Use of bisphosphonate therapy in paediatric patients remains controversial because of inadequate long-term efficacy and safety data," wrote Dr Laura Bachrach and Dr Leanne Ward.
"For this reason, many experts recommend limiting use of these agents to those children with recurrent extremity fractures, symptomatic vertebral collapse, and reduced bone mass."
They added that data available at present is not adequate "to support the use of bisphosphonates in children to treat reductions in bone mass density alone".
The study authors concluded: "More research is needed to define appropriate indications for bisphosphonate therapy and the optimal agent, dose, and duration of use in paediatric patients."
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said the results of its six-year £350,000 trial into the effect of bisphosphonates in children with osteogenesis imperfecta showed that risedronate reduced fracture rate, irrespective of the dose used, confirming that the medicine was both safe and effective in treating this group of children.
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