Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Authors: Nelson B. Watts, Steven T. Harris, Michael R. McClung, John P. Bilezikian, Susan L. Greenspan, Marjorie M. Luckey
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Letters21 November 2006Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the JawNelson B. Watts, MD, Steven T. Harris, MD, Michael R. McClung, MD, John P. Bilezikian, MD, Susan L. Greenspan, MD, and Marjorie M. Luckey, MDNelson B. Watts, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio., Steven T. Harris, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio., Michael R. McClung, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio., John P. Bilezikian, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio., Susan L. Greenspan, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio., and Marjorie M. Luckey, MDFrom the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-145-10-200611210-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR: Woo and colleagues (1) have provided a helpful review of bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw. However, their paper includes serious misstatements about bisphosphonates and bone. Citing the beagle dog study by Mashiba and colleagues (2), Woo and colleagues state that prolonged use of bisphosphonates may suppress bone turnover to the point that microdamage persists and accumulates, resulting in decreased biomechanical competence. However, they did not mention an earlier study by Mashiba and colleagues that showed that the microcracks in the ribs of the beagle dogs had little or no effect on vertebral strength (3). Woo and ...References1. 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Randomized trial of effect of alendronate continuation versus discontinuation in women with low BMD: results from the Fracture Intervention Trial long-term extension. J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19:1259-69. [PMID: 15231012] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Nelson B. Watts, MD; Steven T. Harris, MD; Michael R. McClung, MD; John P. Bilezikian, MD; Susan L. Greenspan, MD; Marjorie M. Luckey, MDAffiliations: From the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.Disclosures: Dr. Watts is a consultant for Eli Lilly, Novartis, Procter & Gamble, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis; receives honoraria from Procter & Gamble, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis; and receives research support through Amgen, Eli Lilly, Merck & Co. Inc., Novartis, Procter & Gamble, and Sanofi-Aventis. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSystematic Review: Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaws Sook-Bin Woo , John W. Hellstein , and John R. Kalmar Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Sook-Bin Woo , John W. Hellstein , and John R. Kalmar Bisphosphonates and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Andrew Grey and Tim Cundy Metrics Cited byThe Role of GH/IGF Axis in Dento-Alveolar Complex from Development to Aging and Therapeutics: A Narrative ReviewStress Fractures of the Pelvis and Legs in AthletesTreatment of osteoporosis and reduction in risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with raloxifeneRationale for using raloxifene to prevent both osteoporosis and breast cancer in postmenopausal womenCurrent awareness: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety 21 November 2006Volume 145, Issue 10Page: 791-792KeywordsBiopsyBoneBone remodelingConflicts of interestEstrogen replacement therapyEstrogensGlucocorticoid therapyOsteoporosisRibsSafety ePublished: 21 November 2006 Issue Published: 21 November 2006 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2006 by American College of Physicians. 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