Indications for IV bisphosphonates:
- Intolerance of oral bisphosphonates
- Falling BMD or fracture while on oral bisphosphonates with evidence of inadequate supression of urine NTX. uNTX >25 nmol/mmol creatinine (reference range is <51 nmol/mmol creatinine)
- Hiatus hernia, gastromucosal irritation, dysphagia, oesophageal disease, gastritis, duodenitis, or gastrointestinal ulcers.[1]
Contraindications
- Creatinine clearance <35ml/min
- Planned dental surgery [2]
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Poor dentition [2]
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Check with dentist prior to commencing treatment
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Maintain good oral hygiene, have annual dental check-ups
- If loosening of teeth, oral pain or swelling, inform their dentist and doctor
Tests prior to infusion
- Ensure vitamin D replete (25-OH VitD above 40-50nmol/L) and not hypocalcaemic
- Urine NTX recorded at baseline. This is collected as a 2nd morning urine sample in a 10ml universal container. It can be ordered on ICE.
How to arrange admission
Referral letter to Endocrine SpR in charge of admission for infusion of 5mg Zoledronate
Administration
- 5mg zolendronate IV over at least 15mins
- On discharge BNF recommends 500mg elemental calcium twice daily with vitamin D for 10 days (if not hypercalcaemic). Use any calcium preparation available from Pharmacy, e.g. Calcichew
Follow-up
- Annual followup appointment in Metabolic Bone Clinic (BOEC)
- Prior to appointment repeat U&E, Ca2+, Pi, Mg2+,, ALP, 25OHVitD, PTH and urine NTX
- If NTX remains in lowest quartile <12 nmol/mmol creatinine repeat uNTX in 1 year
- If NTX greater than 12 nmol/mmol creatinine repeat zelendronate infusion.
- Repeat DEXA BMD scan every 2 years
[1] Green et al., 2010 suggested there may be a small increase in the risk of oesophageal cancer in patients who had taken oral bisphosphonates for more than five years compared with a group who had not take oral bisphosphonates. A subsequent study of patients in the UK General Practice Research Database cohort of 40,000 patients treated with oral bisphosphonates followed over 4½ years found the use of oral bisphosphonates was not significantly associated with incident esophageal or gastric cancer, Cardwell et al., 2010.
[2] Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported, especially in patients also receiving steroids, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy who have had invasive dental surgery. The onset can occur from months to years after the start of bisphosphonate therapy (Khosla et al. 2007). A review of clinical trials by Grbic et al found that of 5,903 patients with osteopaenia or osteoporosis who received zolendronate in five clinical trials, ONJ incidence was less than one in 14,200 patient treatment-years.