Measurements of whole body retention of diphosphonate and other indices of bone metabolism in 125 normals: dependency on age, sex and glomerular filtration

On the pharmacological evaluation of bisphosphonates in humans

One of the key parameters for a successful treatment with any drug is the use of an optimal dose regimen. Bisphosphonates (BPs) have been in clinical use for over five decades and during this period clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) evaluations have been instrumental for the identification of optimal dose regimens in patients. Ideal clinical PK and PD studies help drug developers explain variability in responses and enable the identification of a dose regimen with an optimal effect. PK and PD studies of the unique and rather complex pharmacological properties of BPs also help determine to a significant extent ideal dosing for these drugs. Clinical PK and PD evaluations of BPs preferably use study designs and assays that enable the assessment of both short- (days) and long-term (years) presence and effect of these drugs in patients. BPs are mainly used for metabolic bone diseases because they inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and the best way to quantify their effects in humans is therefore by measuring biochemical markers of bone resorption in serum and urine. In these very same samples BP concentrations can also be measured. Short-term serum and urine data after both intravenous (IV) and oral administration enable the assessment of oral bioavailability as well as the amount of BP delivered to the skeleton. Longer-term data provide information on the anti-resorptive effect as well as the elimination of the BP from the skeleton. Using PK-PD models to mathematically link the anti-resorptive action of the BPs to the amount of BP at the skeleton provides a mechanism-based explanation of the pattern of bone resorption during treatment. These models have been used successfully during the clinical development of BPs. Newer versions of such models, which include systems pharmacology and disease progression models, are more comprehensive and include additional PD parameters such as BMD and fracture risk. Clinical PK and PD studies of BPs have been useful for the identification of optimal dose regimens for metabolic bone diseases. These analyses will also continue to be important for newer research directions, such as BP use in the delivery of other drugs to the bone to better treat bone metastases and bone infections, as well as the potential benefit of BPs at non-skeletal targets for the prevention and treatments of soft tissue cancers, various fibroses, and other cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and reduction in mortality and extension of lifespan.

99mTc bone scintigraphy superscans: a review

Whole-body bone scintigraphy (bone scan) using a (99m)Tc-labelled pharmaceutical is one of the most commonly performed radionuclide examinations. In the normal patient, both the osseous components of the skeletal system as well as the kidneys and bladder are visualized. A superscan is defined as a bone scan which demonstrates markedly increased skeletal radioisotope uptake relative to soft tissues, in association with absent or faint genito-urinary tract activity. While a superscan is relatively uncommon, its recognition is important, as it is associated with a number of important underlying diseases. The purpose of this review article is to describe the causes and variable features of a superscan and depict patterns which may aid in defining the underlying cause for the scan. In addition, we will discuss other investigations that may help further to identify the underlying disease in such cases.

Changes in calcium homoeostasis and bone formation in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction: effect of verapamil treatment. Danish Study Group on Verapamil in Myocardial Infarction

The effect of the calcium antagonist verapamil on calcium homoeostasis and bone metabolism has been investigated in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Ten patients randomized to verapamil 120 mg t.i.d. and 9 patients randomized to placebo in The Danish Verapamil Infarction Trial II took part in the study. Bone formation, estimated by 24-h whole body retention of diphosphonate (WBR), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase and calcium metabolic indices, was recorded before the start of medication and after 1 and 6 months of treatment. Baseline calcium metabolic variables were not significantly different between the two study groups. There were no significant differences in WBR (0.38 vs 0.37), osteocalcin level (8.2 vs 8.0 micrograms/l) or alkaline phosphatase (218 vs 200 U/l) after treatment for 6 months with verapamil compared to placebo. Serum PTH, calcium and phosphate levels were also not affected by verapamil. The results suggest that prolonged treatment with clinical doses of verapamil does not affect indices of calcium and bone metabolism in humans.

Clinical usefulness of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity determination to evaluate bone turnover

The study was carried out to evaluate the clinical validity and usefulness of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity determined using an improved spectrophotometric assay. Enzyme activity was measured in 84 normal subjects and in 109 patients with common metabolic bone diseases. Mean values of serum TRAP activity in male subjects (n = 19; 10.4 +/- 2.15 U l-1) were not significantly different from those found in female subjects (n = 65; 10.8 +/- 1.8 U l-1). In the latter group mean values were significantly raised in post-menopausal subjects (10.5 +/- 2.0 U l-1; p less than 0.01) compared with mean values in pre-menopausal women (8.45 +/- 1.8 U l-1). We found a significant inverse correlation between serum TRAP activity values and bone mineral density (BMD) measured both at an ultradistal radial point (n = 33, r = -0.506; p less than 0.01), and at the lumbar spine (n = 57, r = -0.261; p less than 0.05). Mean serum TRAP activity values in patients with metabolic bone diseases were: primary hyperparathyroidism, n = 30: 14.2 +/- 4.89 U l-1, p less than 0.001 vs normal subjects; chronic maintenance haemodialysis, n = 19: 17.4 +/- 6.7, p less than 0.001; metastatic cancer, n = 13: 21.2 +/- 6.3, p less than 0.001; post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, n = 10: 9.9 +/- 1.8, NS; involutional osteoporosis, n = 20: 12.5 +/- 2.3 p less than 0.001; Paget's disease, n = 10: 16.8 +/- 3.5, p less than 0.001; osteomalacia, n = 7: 19.5 +/- 3.31, p less than 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A clinical comparison of bone imaging agents

This study compares the six commercially available kits for preparing methylene diphosphonate. The kits were randomly assigned to 134 bone examinations such that neither the physicians nor the technologists knew which brand of tracer was used. Thigh activity quantitatively varied significantly among the kits (P = 0.019). Detectable gastric activity also varied by brand. Other qualitative and quantitative measures of bone and soft tissue uptake showed no significant differences among the kits but consistently favored the Squibb product.

Nuclear medicine studies of aging--VIII. Bone to soft-tissue ratio of 99mTc labeled MDP and HMDP vs age

An objective approach to determine whether there was an advantage of using 99mTc-MDP or 99mTc-HMDP for bone imaging, particularly in elderly subjects, was evaluated by measuring the bone to soft-tissue ratio in relation to age. This was done by quantifying analog images of the femoral region by using an optical densitometer. A ratio (mean for right and left thighs) was determined for mid-femur to adjacent soft-tissue. These values were analyzed in relation to the age of patients studied with either MDP or HMDP. Little correlation with age was observed. An analysis at 10-year intervals of age indicated a decline in the ratio after 70 years, without any significant difference between MDP and HMDP.

Bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Effect of calcitonin treatment

To investigate the effectiveness of calcitonin treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in relation to bone turnover, we examined 53 postmenopausal osteoporotic women before and after one year of therapy with salmon calcitonin (sCT), at the dose of 50 IU every other day. Baseline evaluation revealed that 17 (32%) patients had high turnover (HTOP), and 36 (68%) normal turnover osteoporosis (NTOP) as assessed by measurement of whole body retention (WBR) of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate. The two groups did not differ in terms of bone mineral content (BMC) measured by dual photon absorptiometry at both lumbar spine and femoral diaphysis. However, HTOP patients had higher levels of serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary hydroxyproline excretion (HOP/Cr). Multivariate regression analysis showed no correlation between parameters of bone turnover (WBR, OC, HOP/Cr) and both femoral and vertebral bone density; the latter being negatively correlated only with the years elapsed since menopause (R2 = 0.406). Treatment with sCT resulted in a significant increase of vertebral BMC in the 53 patients taken as a whole group (+/- 7%, P less than 0.001). When the results obtained in HTOP and NTOP were analyzed separately, only those with HTOP showed a marked increment of spinal BMC (+22%, P less than 0.001), NTOP subjects neither gained nor lost bone mineral during the study. Femoral BMC decreased in the whole group after sCT therapy (-3%, P less than 0.003). However, HTOP patients maintained initial BMC values, whereas those with NTOP lost a significant amount of bone during the study period (-5%, P less than 0.001). The increase of vertebral bone mass was associated with a marked depression of bone turnover detectable in both subsets of patients and in the whole group.

IN CONCLUSION

(a) assessment of bone turnover cannot help predict the severity of bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis; (b) calcitonin therapy appears to be particularly indicated for patients with high-turnover osteoporosis, resulting in a net gain of bone mineral in the axial skeleton and a slowing of bone loss in the appendicular bones.

GFR-corrected 24-hour whole body retention of diphosphonate: an improved index of bone metabolism

The 24-hour whole body retention of diphosphonate (WBR) depends on bone uptake and renal clearance of diphosphonate. To evaluate the influence of glomerular filtration we measured WBR, creatinine clearance (CrCl) and s-alkaline phosphatase (s-AP) in 91 normals and 79 patients with different calcium metabolic disorders. As presumed, a negative correlation between CrCl and WBR exists (r = -0.67, p less than 0.001). By defining CrCl = 100 ml/min as standard, we have introduced a new mathematical model which allows recalculation of the measured WBR to WBR at CrCl = 100 ml/min (WBR100): WBR100 = [(1-WBR) x 100/WBR x CrCl +1]-1 Whole body retention at a clearance of 100 ml/min is demonstrated to be independent of CrCl (r = 0.14, NS). Using this approach we estimate that deviations of CrCl below 70 ml/min and above 150 ml/min lead to more than 25% increase/decrease in WBR. Using s-alkaline phosphatase as a standard, it is shown that WBR overestimates bone formation when CrCl is low. This new model permits the interpretation of WBR measurements in terms of bone turnover in patients with low glomerular filtration rates.

Nuclear medicine studies of aging--IV. Femoral proximal to distal radionuclide uptake gradient

Analyses of radionuclide bone scans were carried out to determine if, with the aging process, there were measurable changes in the femoral gradient of activity from proximal to distal portions of bone. Images of the femoral region were obtained using a gamma camera 2-3 h after i.v. administration of 99mTc labeled MDP. Sixty patients (1-85 years old) were selected based on the criteria that their femoral images appeared normal and there was no history of limb disease. Radionuclide concentrations at the upper, middle, and lower regions of the femur were determined from the femoral scans by using an optical densitometer, and background corrected. Results were expressed as ratios of upper to middle, lower to middle, and upper to lower regions of the femur. The analysis showed that the lower to middle ratio declined with age.

Studies on diphosphonate kinetics. Part II: Whole body bone uptake rate during constant infusion--a refined index of bone metabolism

To elaborate the understanding of diphosphonate kinetics, a non compartmental analysis is introduced. Using continuous infusion of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (Tc-MDP) and 51Cr-EDTA, as a cotracer, the diphosphonate clearance to bone (BDC) can be calculated. BDC is found to correlate well with the 24 h whole body retention of diphosphonate (WBR) (r = 0.89, P less than 0.01) when renal function is normal, but not in cases of reduced 51Cr-EDTA clearance. These findings indicate that BDC measurements are superior to the WBR technique in the estimation of bone turnover, especially when renal function is reduced. The BDC measurements may also constitute a useful tool for studies of diphosphonate uptake in bone, the foundation of bone scintigraphy.

Studies on diphosphonate kinetics. Part I: Evaluation of plasma elimination curves during 24 h

To improve the understanding of diphosphonate affinity to metabolically active bone, the underlying diphosphonate kinetics have been evaluated and compared to Cr-EDTA kinetics. MDP binds to plasma proteins, varying from 25% initially to approximately 70% after 24 h. The renal clearance of diphosphonate is found to be equal to Cr-EDTA clearance. Using simultaneous bolus injection of 99Tc-MDP and 51Cr-EDTA, it has been possible to obtain a coarse estimate of bone uptake of MDP. This uptake is found to correlate well with s-alkaline phosphatase, but since MDP binding to bone is reversible, the plasma elimination curve is not monoexponential. Therefore it has not been possible to describe the uptake of MDP in bone mathematically.

Bone turnover in healthy adults measured by whole body retention and urinary excretion of 99mTc-MDP. Normalization by bone mass

Whole body retention (WBR) and urinary excretion (UE) of 99mTc-diphosphonate, two complementary methods of measuring the total bone turnover, were performed in 161 normal subjects, 82 women and 79 men, aged 20-70 years. Both WBR and UE were a function of age in the women, whereas there were no age-dependent differences in the men. Between the women and men in identical age groups, the differences did not reach significance. Total body bone mineral (TBBM) was measured by dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) in all subjects. This was done in order to obtain expressions for bone turnover per bone mass as a function of age and sex. This correction emphasized the general picture seen in the raw WBR and UE data: bone turnover was constant in the men throughout life and in the women before the menopause, and only moderate differences were found between the sexes before the age of 50. After this age the mean female values increased sharply. It is noteworthy that none of the postmenopausal subjects showed low turnover values. Our data clearly demonstrate that an increase in bone turnover is part of the pathophysiology of the well-known bone loss in postmenopausal women.