Conditions: Osteoporosis
Keywords: Fracture Bone Mineral Density DXA
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 22
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
We have previously evaluated the safety and efficacy of Alendronate in 10 patients with juvenile osteoporosis during a 12-month clinical trial. We have documented that Alendronate improved BMD of the spine and hip without any major side effects. There were no additional fractures during therapy. The present study is designed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of Alendronate in 20 children with juvenile osteoporosis using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over protocol.

Detailed description:
Osteoporosis is an uncommon disease in children and early adolescents. Patients have a low bone mineral density, develop fractures with minimal or no trauma, and frequently have a negative family history. The disease results from either diminished bone formation or increased bone removal (resorption). No specific drug therapy has been recommended for juvenile osteoporosis. Alendronate (Fosamax) is effective in inhibiting bone resorption, increasing BMD and reducing fractures in adults with postmenopausal osteoporosis, but have not become established therapies in children. In the present study, we plan to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Alendronate in 20 patients with juvenile osteoporosis in a two-year period. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol. In the year-1, 10 patients will be assigned to receive Alendronate and 10 patients placebo. In the year-2, patients will be crossed over to the second arm of the study. Those who received Alendronate in the year-1, will receive placebo in the second year and vice verse. The patients will have 5 visits, the initial screening visit followed by 4 post therapy visits in a six-month interval. Measurements include DXA bone density scan of spine and hip, urinalysis and blood work.

Arms:
arm 1: Crossover study. Year-1, 10 participants will take study medication, calcium and vitamin D supplements and other 10 participants will take placebo, calcium and vitamin D supplements. Year-2, they will crossover to the second arm of the study. Those who took study medication and supplements in year-1, will take placebo and supplements in the year-2, and those 10 participants who took placebo and supplements in the year-1, will take study medications and supplements in the year-2. arm 2: Year-1, 10 participants will take Alendronate (study medication)and calcium and vitamin D supplement). Another 10 participants will take placebo, calcium and vitamin D. In year-2 they will crossover. Those who took alendronate in the first year, will take Placebo, calcium and vitamin D for 12 months and those who took Placebo in the first year, will take Alendronate, calcium and vitamin D in the second year (12 months).

Interventions: intervention 1: Alendronate
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Group-1/Year-1:Alendronate, pill, 35mg or 70mg, weekly; calcium, pill, 500mg or 1000mg daily; vitamin D, liquid, 800IU, daily, depending upon the body weight, for 12 months. Group-1/Year-2:Placebo, pill, 35mg or 70mg, weekly; calcium, pill, 500mg or 1000mg daily; vitamin D, liquid, 800IU, daily, depending upon the body weight for 12 months. Group-2/Year-1:Placebo, pill, 35mg or 70mg, weekly; calcium, pill, 500mg or 1000mg daily; vitamin D, liquid, 800IU, daily, depending upon the body weight for 12 months. Group-2/Year-2: Alendronate, pill, 35mg or 70mg, weekly; calcium, pill, 500mg or 1000mg daily; vitamin D, liquid, 800IU, daily, depending upon the body weight for 12 months.

Protocol document: