Prescription-event monitoring study on 13,164 patients prescribed risedronate in primary care in England

Does the use of bisphosphonates during pregnancy affect fetal outcomes? A systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to determine the effects of maternal exposure to bisphosphonates (BPs) during pregnancy on neonatal outcomes. It aimed to disclosfe the impact of BPs on neonates and identify aspects that require further investigation.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Science Direct, LILACS, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted until August 2022, with no time restrictions. The selection criteria included studies published in English that evaluated pregnant women who were exposed to BPs.

RESULTS

From an initial pool of 2169 studies, 13 met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. These studies collectively included 106 women (108 pregnancies) who were exposed to BPs either before orduring pregnancy. A summary of the key characteristics of the selected studies and the risk of bias assessment are provided. Exposure to BPs occurs at various stages of pregnancy, with different indications for BP treatment. The most frequently reported neonatal outcomes were spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, hypocalcemia, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

CONCLUSION

Although previous reports have linked BPs before or during pregnancy with adverse neonatal outcomes, these associations should be interpreted with caution. Given the complexity of these findings, further research is necessary to provide more definitive insights to guide clinical decisions regarding the use of BPs in pregnant women.

Medication-associated orbital inflammation: A systematic review

We performed a comprehensive systematic review to identify medication-associated orbital inflammation and to characterize its clinico-radiological features. We reviewed English-language articles describing medication-associated orbital inflammation (i.e., orbital myositis, dacryoadenitis and orbital fat) published to June, 2023. Isolated inflammation of the intraocular structures or globe alone (i.e. uveitis, scleritis, optic neuritis and perineuritis) were excluded. In medication-associated orbital inflammation, the extraocular muscles are preferentially affected, occurring in isolation or in combination with other orbital and/or intraocular structures. Clinico-radiological manifestations may be non-specific; however, certain medications may be distinguished according to the presence of systemic prodrome, laterality, associated intraocular inflammation, and predisposition to involve certain orbital structures. Rapid identification, discontinuation of the provoking medication, and systemic corticosteroid therapy (if appropriate) typically achieves a favorable visual prognosis. As new medications become adopted by clinicians, rare adverse effects will be further delineated.Medication-associated orbital inflammation is an important diagnostic consideration in orbital inflammatory disease. A careful medication history and clinical assessment may be revealing, permitting timely discontinuation of the offending agent and initiation of appropriate management.

Acute Iridocyclitis Associated With Intravenous Zoledronic Acid: A Case Report

Bisphosphonates are widely used drugs for the management of osteoporosis. Intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZA) is frequently prescribed in cases of oral bisphosphonate intolerance or non-compliance. Well-known immediate ZA side effects include flu-like symptoms such as nausea, myalgias, bone and joint pains, and fever. Here we report a case of a rare side effect of acute anterior uveitis following initial dosing of ZA in a 71-year-old female with osteoporosis who had been vitamin D deficient a couple of months earlier. She presented with headache, bilateral eye redness, and pain post ZA infusion. Findings of diffuse conjunctival injection, and flare with cells in the anterior chamber were suggestive of anterior uveitis. Her symptoms resolved with prednisolone eye drops in three weeks. Ocular inflammation is a rare but serious side effect of this commonly administered drug. Optimizing vitamin D levels prior to treatment may help to prevent this condition. Clinicians should be aware of the rare occurrence of post-ZA ocular inflammation. Early recognition and prompt treatment are essential.

Patient-reported effectiveness and safety of Pamidronate in NSAIDs-refractory chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis in children

To evaluate patient-reported effectiveness, safety and social influence of Pamidronate in the therapy of NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis in children. Authors reviewed self-created questionnaires, which asked patients for symptoms alleviation, adverse drug reactions frequency and degree of severity and daily activities self-reliance. Only surveys with complete answers, which were returned to authors by an e-mail from juvenile patients treated for NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis at the University Children’s Hospital of Cracow were analyzed. Between 2010 and 2019, 61 children were diagnosed with NSAIDs-refractory Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis at our department. Out of 61 requests sent, 42 complete replies (33 females, 9 males) were gathered and analyzed. All patients included in this research were administered with at least one set of Pamidronate intravenously in the dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days. Our analysis shows remarkable in terms of patient’s impressions decrease of pain intensity after 2.5 series of Pamidronate on average, and total pain resolution after 5.9 series on average. Overall number of adverse drug reaction events reported by responders was 105. One patient developed drug-dependent renal insufficiency in the course of therapy. Outcome assessment indicates that nearly 50% of the studied population was more eager to participate in social life just after the first infusion of the drug. 95% of the surveyed unanimously agreed to recommend Pamidronate therapy to cure NSAIDs-refractory CRMO. 39 out of 42 (93%) patients considered Pamidronate effective at the end of the treatment. Onset of Pamidronate’s action is gradual and differs in terms of symptoms alleviation between sexes. The therapy can induce considerable number of adverse drug reactions (2.5 per patient). Only 3 out of 42 (7%) patients were free from any ADRs. To demonstrate the impact of the use of Pamidronate on daily activities more precisely, further research with quantification of the quality of life is warranted.

The risk of anti-osteoporotic agent-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions and their association with HLA

BACKGROUND

There is increasing use of anti-osteoporotic agents (AOA) worldwide for prevention or management of patients with osteoporosis. However, there have been reports of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) induced by AOA. A recent study showed weak association between HLA and strontium ranelate (SR)-SCAR.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize patients with AOA-SCAR and investigate the HLA association and utility of in vitro diagnostic methods.

METHODS

We enrolled 16 cases with AOA-cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADR), including SCAR (n = 10: 8 with Stevens-Johnson syndrome [SJS] and 2 with drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms [DRESS]) and maculopapular exanthema (MPE) (n = 6) from Taiwan and Hong Kong. We analysed the clinical characteristics, outcomes, HLA alleles and in vitro testing of AOA-SCAR, and tolerability to alternative drugs. We further performed literature review and meta-analysis on the HLA association of AOA-SCAR.

RESULTS

Our data showed strontium ranelate is the most common causality of AOA-SCAR in Asian populations. There was no cross-hypersensitivity of SR-SCAR with other AOA. HLA genotyping showed that SR-SJS was most significantly associated with HLA-A*33:03 (Pc = 5.17 × 10^-3 , OR: 25.97, 95% CI: 3.08-219.33). Meta-analysis showed that HLA-A*33:03 was associated with SR-SJS (P = 5.01 × 10^-5 ; sensitivity: 85.7%) in Asians. The sensitivity of lymphocyte activation test (LAT) for identifying the culprit drug of SR-SJS was 83.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Strontium ranelate is identified as the most notorious AOA associated with SCAR. The HLA-A*33:03 genetic allele and LAT testing may add benefits to the diagnosis of SR-SCAR in patients whose reaction developed while taking multiple drugs.

Aminobisphosphonate-associated orbital and ocular inflammatory disease

PURPOSE

Aminobisphosphonates may cause orbital/ocular inflammation. Awareness of the clinical presentation and disease course is crucial. The purpose of this study was to analyse demographics, clinical presentation, disease course and treatment of aminobisphosphonate-associated orbital/ocular inflammation in a large series of patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients with aminobisphosphonate-associated orbital/ocular inflammation and a literature review to differentiate disease presentation and course between various aminobisphosphonates.

RESULTS

Eight patients from our institution (6 women and 2 men, median age 62 years) were included. The used drugs were zoledronate, alendronate and risedronate. The most common clinical presentation was conjunctival hyperaemia/chemosis. Scleritis was the most common manifestation, followed by diffuse orbital inflammation and anterior uveitis. Ultrasound aided in diagnosis in all our patients. The aminobisphosphonate was halted in all patients, and some patients had anti-inflammatory treatment. Literature review included 68 patients (83 eyes), of them the most abundant drugs causing orbital/ocular inflammation were pamidronate (38 eyes) and zoledronate (35 eyes). Overall, among 76 patients, all drugs induced orbital disease, while uveitis was induced mostly by zoledronate and pamidronate, less by alendronate and not found among risedronate users. Time interval from drug administration to symptoms was hours to 28 days. Resolution was achieved in all patients, after 1-60 days from disease presentation, and the longer resolution period was found among alendronate users.

CONCLUSION

Orbital/ocular inflammation was mostly caused by intravenous aminobisphosphonates. Uveitis was not induced by risedronate. The putative aminobisphosphonate should be halted at the onset of orbital/ocular involvement and prognosis is favourable.

Cutaneous side effects of antiosteoporosis treatments

Cutaneous adverse reactions are reported for many therapeutic agents and, in general, are observed in between 0% and 8% of treated patients depending on the drug. Antiosteoporotic agents are considered to be safe in terms of cutaneous effects, however there have been a number of case reports of cutaneous adverse reactions which warrant consideration. This was the subject of a working group meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis in April 2009, which focused on the impact of cutaneous adverse reactions and drug-induced hypersensitivity in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This position paper was drafted following these discussions and includes a flowchart for their recognition. Cutaneous adverse reactions observed with antiosteoporotic agents were reviewed and included information from case reports, regulatory documents and pharmacovigilance. These reactions ranged from benign effects including exanthematous or maculopapular eruption (drug rash), photosensitivity and urticaria, to the severe and potentially life-threatening reactions of angioedema, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. A review of the available evidence demonstrates that cutaneous adverse reactions occur with all commonly used antiosteoporotic treatments. Notably, there are reports of Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis for bisphosphonates, and of DRESS and toxic epidermal necrolysis for strontium ranelate. These severe reactions remain very rare (<1 in 10,000 cases). In general, with proper management and early recognition, including immediate and permanent withdrawal of the culprit agent, accompanied by hospitalization, rehydration and systemic corticosteroids if necessary, the prognosis is positive.

Risedronate-associated scleritis: a case report and review of the literature

This paper presents the first reported case of risedronate-associated scleritis and conducts a review of bisphosphonates and inflammatory eye diseases. A case of scleritis associated with risedronate use in a 73-year-old Chinese woman is reported. The English medical literature was reviewed for bisphosphonates and their association with inflammatory eye diseases. Cases of ocular inflammation in patients taking bisphosphonates have been reported since the early 1990s. Reported cases include both nitrogen- and non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates and with both intravenous and oral use. We report the first case of risedronate-induced scleritis. The case involves a 73-year-old woman who developed scleritis following exposure to risedronate in 2007 with recurrence of scleritis upon risedronate exposure again in 2009. Discontinuation of risedronate and treatment with intravenous and topical corticosteroids resulted in both clinical and radiological improvements within 24 h. Applying Naranjo's adverse drug reaction probability scale, a causality assessment was made which categorized this reaction as definite with a score of 9. In our case, there was a strong causal relationship between the use of risedronate and scleritis. Although rare, ocular adverse effects of bisphosphonates may be serious and should be made known to prescribing physicians. This is important in the practice of rheumatology as many of the patients are prescribed this class of medication for either prevention or treatment of osteoporosis. Moreover, ocular inflammation can be a sign of systemic disease, and such patients may be referred to a rheumatologist.

Adverse effects of bisphosphonates

Use of bisphosphonates has been growing steadily in the last decade. This follows the introduction of simpler dosing regimes, the availability of lower-priced generics, and concerns about the safety of hormone-replacement therapy. Bisphosphonates have a relatively good safety record and are tolerated by the majority of patients, but serious adverse events have been recorded in some cases. Only the most common of adverse effects are robustly observable in clinical trials. In general, studies were not powered to detect effects that were lower in incidence than fractures. This review of adverse events in bisphosphonate-treated patients was based on published information from case reports, case series, claims databases, national databases, surveys, adverse event reporting databases, and single or pooled clinical trials. The most common acute adverse events with bisphosphonates for osteoporosis are gastrointestinal discomfort and acute influenza-like illness. Renal complications are very rare with oral bisphosphonates and rare with i.v. bisphosphonates when used appropriately. Based on our current knowledge, skeletal events in the form of osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical fragility fractures are rare compared with the risk of osteoporotic fractures, at least in patients with the same risk of fractures as those in the phase III trials. It is biologically plausible that atypical fragility fractures could follow from suppression of bone remodeling, but high-quality studies proving causality are lacking. Physicians are advised to critically reassess BMD and risk profile after 3-5 years of therapy to avoid treatment in patients at low risk.

Treatment of osteoporosis: recognizing and managing cutaneous adverse reactions and drug-induced hypersensitivity

Cutaneous adverse reactions are reported for many treatments including antiosteoporotic agents. This position paper includes an algorithm for their recognition. With early recognition and proper management, including immediate and permanent withdrawal of the culprit agent, accompanied by hospitalization, rehydration, and systemic corticosteroids, if necessary, the prognosis is good.

INTRODUCTION

Cutaneous adverse reactions are reported for many therapeutic agents and observed in between 0% and 8% of treated patients depending on the drug. The antiosteoporotic agents are reputed to be safe in terms of cutaneous effects; however, there have been a number of case reports of cutaneous adverse reactions, which merit consideration. This was the subject of a Working Group meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis in April 2009, to focus on the impact of cutaneous adverse reactions and drug-induced hypersensitivity in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. We prepared this position paper following these discussions, and include an algorithm for their recognition.

METHODS

We reviewed cutaneous adverse reactions observed with antiosteoporotic agents, including information from case reports, regulatory documents, and pharmacovigilance.

RESULTS

The cutaneous adverse reactions range from benign reactions including exanthematous or maculopapular eruption (drug rash), photosensitivity, and urticaria to the severe and potentially life-threatening reactions, angioedema, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Review of available evidence shows that cutaneous adverse reactions occur with all commonly used antiosteoporotic agents. Notably, there are reports of SJS and TEN for bisphosphonates, and of DRESS and TEN for strontium ranelate. These severe reactions remain very rare (<1 in 10,000 cases).

CONCLUSION

With early recognition and proper management, including immediate and permanent withdrawal of the culprit agent, accompanied by hospitalization and rehydration and systemic corticosteroids if necessary, the prognosis is good.

Dyspepsia as an adverse effect of drugs

Drugs are frequently implicated as a possible cause in new onset dyspeptic symptoms and few drugs are free of this suspicion. Nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain and dyspepsia make up between one-tenth and one-third of reported adverse reactions but they are all so common, both in the background population and among patients, that they are frequently attributed to an illness rather than to medications. No symptom or clinical sign is pathognomonic for adverse drug effects, maybe with the exception of vomiting. Dyspepsia is a common reporting in placebo-arms of treatment trials. Owing to the high background incidence of dyspepsia, it is difficult to discern between spontaneous and true drug-related dyspepsia. The mechanisms by which a drug causes dyspepsia are often unknown even though some drugs are known to cause direct mucosal injury. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are common causes of drug-related dyspepsia.

Fracture risk in patients receiving acid-suppressant medication alone and in combination with bisphosphonates

SUMMARY

Previous studies have found an association between acid suppressants and fracture risk. We assessed fracture risk in patients taking concomitant acid suppressant and bisphosphonates. Positive associations were observed for any hip and vertebral fracture. The effect size was modest; however, the significance lies in the widespread prescribing of acid suppressants.

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have found that acid-suppressive medication (ASM) is associated with an increased risk of fracture. Bisphosphonates can cause upper gastrointestinal problems, and patients may be prescribed ASM to minimise these effects.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study using the GPRD was conducted in patients aged 40 years and older starting proton pump inhibitors (PPI, N = 234,144), H(2) receptor antagonists (H(2)RA, N = 166,798) or bisphosphonates (N = 67,309). Fracture risk in current versus past use of ASM and concomitant use of bisphosphonate plus ASM versus bisphosphonate alone was compared using time-dependent Cox regression.

RESULTS

In the 6 months before initiating bisphosphonate therapy, 20.1% of patients received a PPI and 7.5% an H(2)RA. Current PPI use was associated with an increased risk of any (adjusted relative rate (ARR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.20), hip (ARR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.37), and vertebral fracture (ARR 1.40, 95% CI 1.11-1.78); and concomitant bisphosphonates and PPIs with an increased risk of any (ARR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.16) and hip fracture (ARR 1.24, 95% CI 1.08-1.42).

CONCLUSIONS

ASM is associated with an increased risk of fracture when taken alone or in combination with bisphosphonates. Given the frequency of coprescription of ASM and bisphosphonates, this issue requires further investigation.

Bisphosphonates: mechanism of action and role in clinical practice

Bisphosphonates are primary agents in the current pharmacological arsenal against osteoclast-mediated bone loss due to osteoporosis, Paget disease of bone, malignancies metastatic to bone, multiple myeloma, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. In addition to currently approved uses, bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed for prevention and treatment of a variety of other skeletal conditions, such as low bone density and osteogenesis imperfecta. However, the recent recognition that bisphosphonate use is associated with pathologic conditions including osteonecrosis of the jaw has sharpened the level of scrutiny of the current widespread use of bisphosphonate therapy. Using the key words bisphosphonate and clinical practice in a PubMed literature search from January 1, 1998, to May 1, 2008, we review current understanding of the mechanisms by which bisphosphonates exert their effects on osteoclasts, discuss the role of bisphosphonates in clinical practice, and highlight some areas of concern associated with bisphosphonate use.

Osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with use of risedronate: Report of 2 new cases

Use of various bisphosphonates has been associated with the development of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). At least 865 cases of ONJ attributed to these agents have been reported in the English-language literature. Approximately 96% of these published cases were seen with administration of the intravenous agents pamidronate and zoledronate, whereas only 26 cases have been associated with oral bisphosphonates, 25 of them with alendronate. Only a single case of ONJ associated with the oral bisphosphonate risedronate has been previously cited. We report 2 cases of ONJ attributed to risedronate administration. The patients developed osteonecrosis 15 and 24 months after treatment for osteopenia. A regimen of antibiotics and chlorhexidine mouthrinse resolved the osseous defect in the mandible caused by complete exfoliation of a lingual torus in 1 patient. The other patient required sequestrectomy, repeated courses of antibiotics, surgical debridement, and steroids to promote closure of an oroantral fistula and management of sinusitis after bone grafting and implant placement in the posterior maxilla. A demographic profile of reported oral bisphosphonate users affected by ONJ is also provided. With the millions of patients receiving various oral bisphosphonates for osteopenia and osteoporosis, health care practitioners should be aware of the potential for the onset of osteonecrosis and familiar with its management.