Jim Broatch of the RSDSA sent out an email alert today regarding the results of a new study on a bisphosphonates, idicating that in a sample of 111 postmenopausal woman, all of whom had been taking bisphosphonates for at least four years. had an increased risk for an unusual type of femur fracture compared with 50 similar women who were taking calcium and vitamin D supplements for bone health:

Long-term use of popular osteoporosis drug may harm bone
By Shari Roan
Los Angeles Times

Medications called bisphosphonates are standard tools for the treatment of osteoporosis. They include Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel and Reclast. But new data released Wednesday raise some concern about whether the drugs are safe for long-term use.

Although the medications help increase bone quantity in the short term, two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest that they may impair bone quality if used for four years or more. The drugs may suppress the body's natural process of remodeling (removal and replacement of bone tissue) resulting in brittle bones that are prone to fracture. In one study, 111 postmenopausal women who had been taking bisphosphonates for at least four years had an increased risk for an unusual type of femur fracture compared with 50 similar women who were taking calcium and vitamin D supplements for bone health.

The researchers stressed, however, that the drugs are still useful in the early years of use and people should not stop taking them. But more research is needed, said Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser of Columbia University Medical Center in a news release.

"Bisphosphonate use is still a very effective solution that prevents bone loss in most patients and no one is recommending that physicians avoid prescribing these," he said. "However, as baby boomers age and continue to remain active, it is important that we conduct more research and develop sustainable, safe and effective treatments for osteoporosis."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/boos...dications.html

I ran a couple of searches on PubMed, one for "Melvin Rosenwasser" and the other simply searching under "bisphosphonates," but as of a few minutes ago, nothing of immediate relevance was coming up, in any listing format.

Before getting too excited about this study, we need to see if all of the test subjects were being treated for oestioporosis. That could make a huge difference in terms of the generality with which it can be applied, e.g., for CRPS patients with no history of oestioporosis.

Mike