Effect of a Short-Term Treatment with Alendronate on Bone Density and Bone Markers in Patients with Central Diabetes Insipidus

Rosario Pivonello, Antongiulio Faggiano, Carolina Di Somma, Michele Klain, Mariagiovanna Filippella, Marco Salvatore, Gaetano Lombardi, Annamaria Colao
1999 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism  
The aim of this open prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effect of a 6-month treatment with alendronate on the bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine in patients with central diabetes insipidus. Eighteen patients with central diabetes insipidus and 18 sex-and age-matched healthy subjects entered this study. At study entry, all subjects underwent BMD assessment at the lumbar spine and measurement of serum osteocalcin (OC) and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (Ntx).
more » ... Thereafter, 9 of the 18 patients were randomized to receive treatment with alendronate at a dose of 10 mg, orally, once daily for 6 months (group 1), whereas the remaining 9 patients did not receive any treatment affecting bone status during this period (group 2). After 6 months, bone metabolism and bone density study were repeated in all patients. At baseline, lumbar BMD values (0.86 Ϯ 0.03 vs. 1.01 Ϯ 0.02 g/cm 2 ; P Ͻ 0.001) and serum OC levels (4.7 Ϯ 0.3 vs. 7.9 Ϯ 0.2 g/L; P Ͻ 0.001) were significantly lower, whereas urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher [72.0 Ϯ 1.9 vs. 64.6 Ϯ 1.7 nmol bone collagen equivalents (BCE)/nmol creatinine (Cr); P Ͻ 0.01] in patients than in controls.
doi:10.1210/jcem.84.7.5816 pmid:10404801 fatcat:zvdlfksdlvanrbits2jhb4mqbm