Treatment of osteoporosis with infusion

Recently, the infusion of calcium supplementation Aclasta has been welcomed by European doctors because it only needs to be infused once a year to treat osteoporosis in menopausal women. However, the drug also has side effects such as fever, muscle pain .

This study has the full name of 'Medical efficacy and reduced risk of fracture through Zoledronic acid test' (HORIZON for short). Made on a multinational, multi-component basis and using a control group, this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of using 5 mg Zoledronic acid infusions (Aclasta) in preventing secondary fractures. postmenopausal female. The results of this study are published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 3.

300 USD for 15 minutes of infusion

Aclasta reduces the risk of hip fracture by 41% and the risk of vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women.(Photo: Biotech-weblog.com)

A total of 7,765 menopausal women and osteoporosis participated in this latest trial. Among them, 3,889 people used Aclasta, and the rest received placebo.

After 3 years of testing, compared to placebo, the Aclasta group had a 41% lower risk of fracture for the hip bone and 70% for the spine. Meanwhile, current anti-osteoporosis tablets only reduce the risk of vertebral fractures in the rate of 40-50%.

The team said Aclasta helps strengthen bone density and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Aclasta is prepared in the form of infusion fluid; The infusion takes about 15 minutes but works for 12 months. The cost for each transmission is about 300 USD.

The team said Aclasta, known as zoledronic acid, could be an effective alternative to bisphosphonate tablets used daily for people with osteoporosis.

For patients who do not like or cannot take tablets, Aclasta is a good choice.

With taking the pill bisphosphonate, the patient must take the medication with a full glass of water during an empty stomach, and then have to stand upright for at least 30 minutes. In addition, this drug also has side effects that cause esophagitis.
Therefore, after taking this medicine for about 6 months to 1 year, many patients did not continue to use it.

According to Professor Richard Eastell, of the University of Sheffield, the introduction of calcium supplements in the form of fluids with its advantages over tablets is good news not only for British women but for all women. worldwide, especially those who have menopause.

Currently, the drug manufacturer is applying for a license to use Aclasta for postmenopausal women in the UK. The total number of women who are taking osteoporosis drugs in this country is estimated at 480,000.

Currently, in the world, 1 in 3 women has osteoporosis.
In men, this ratio is 1/5. (Photo: soylabs.com, CAND)

Side effects: Over 31% of users may have fever, muscle aches

Professor David Reid, of the University of Aberdeen, head of one of the UK's medical centers that participated in the study, said: 'Preventing hip fractures is still an important thing in this. treating osteoporosis, due to the fact that about 6 months after this fracture, nearly one fifth of patients died. "

The effect of osteoporosis on women over the ages.(Photo: cancersupportivecare.com)

He said: 'For that reason, the 41% reduction in hip fracture rate is of great clinical significance.'

Doctors seem to prefer the treatment once a year, because they want to avoid patients who forget to take the medicine or take it incorrectly according to the instructions.

However, Dr. Steven R. Goldstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine, said: 'Aclasta is an attractive alternative, but not for everyone. This study was conducted for postmenopausal women, so young women should not 'follow' this therapy '.

Besides its outstanding advantages, Aclasta also has some side effects that people need to know. First of all, this drug may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms.

According to an article by Reuters news agency, the rate of women with abnormal heart rhythms after being given Aclasta was 1/77; Meanwhile, Science Daily quoted Dr. Dennis Black as saying that the ratio was less than 1/100. Mr. Black said: 'The rate of increase in the risk of abnormal heart rhythms is very small, so it should be considered in comparison with the benefits of reducing the risk of fracture that Aclasta creates'.

Moreover, according to Dr. Black, doctors are not sure if the abnormal heart rate is a side effect of the drug, because most such cases occur more than 30 days after the infusion. He suggested reviewing this issue.

In addition, the test results also showed that after first receiving Aclasta, 31.6% of patients had symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain or flu, while in the placebo group. Pharmaceutical, this rate is only 6.2%.

However, the incidence of these symptoms has dropped to 6.6% after the second transmission and only 2.8% after the third transmission. Meanwhile, according to Science Daily, the symptoms speak This occurs only in the first 3 days after the first infusion (first year) and does not occur at the next 2 infusions.

Every year in the world more than 200 million people suffer from osteoporosis

- Osteoporosis is a condition in which the density of calcium and minerals in the bones deteriorates, making bones become brittle and porous, leading to a higher risk of fracture. High-risk subjects are the elderly and postmenopausal women.

- According to data from the International Osteoporosis Organization (IOF), in the world, 1 out of 3 women has osteoporosis. In men, this ratio is 1/5.

- According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), each year more than 200 million people worldwide suffer from osteoporosis. By 2050, Asia may account for up to 50% of the rate of osteoporosis fractures in the world.

- Particularly in Vietnam, according to initial survey data of the Institute of Nutrition, osteoporosis affects 1/3 of women and 1/8 of men are over 50 years old. Vietnam currently has more than 6 million people over 60 years of age, meaning that about one million elderly people are at high risk of fractures.

- Besides, the current diet of Vietnamese people does not meet the demand of limiting osteoporosis.The average amount of calcium taken into the body is 524mg / person / day, much lower than the average demand of 800-1,000mg / person / day for adults.

Source: IOF / WHO / Institute of Nutrition (VN)

Minh Quang (According to VNN, BBC, Science Daily, Reuters, CAND.com.vn)