Comparison of alendronate and pamidronate on bone loss in kidney transplant patients for the first 6 months of transplantation.
Omidvar B, Ghorbani A, et al.Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases, 5(6): 420-424, 2011.
Aims
To compare the effect of pamidronate with alendronate on early bone mineral density (BMD) changes in kidney transplant patients.
Interventions
Intravenous pamidronate versus oral alendronate. All patients were treated from three weeks after receiving a kidney transplant for a period of 3 months. All of the patients received prednisolone, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, calcitriol and calcium carbonate after kidney transplantation.
Participants
40 kidney transplant patients who had demonstrable low bone mineral density in the lumber spine, total hip or neck of the femur.
Outcomes
The primary endpoint was BMD changes in the lumbar vertebrae, femur, and/or femur neck in 6 months. The secondary endpoints were changes in glomerular filtration rate and serum calcium level. Other outcomes included serum levels of creatinine, alkaline phosphates, parathyroid hormone.
Follow-up
6 months
CET Conclusions
In this small study, there was no difference in bone density changes in the lumbar spine in the two groups but there was less reduction in bone mineral density in the neck of the femur in the pamidronate group. Thus basically these two biphosphonates were comparable in the prevention of early bone loss after kidney transplantation.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
Not reported