Study of the Effect of Bisphosphonate Therapy on Bone Specific Markers in Prevalent Haemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Our study is a randomized clinical intervention trial (double blind). Twenty three adult prevalent hemodialysis patients from hemodialysis units in Ain Shams university hospitals participated in the trial for evaluation of the possible effect of bisphosphonate therapy on bone specific markers in this group of patients. Patients were randomly selected from the hemodialysis units, and they were randomized to take either the drug or the placebo tablet. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A: 18 patients who received ibandronate 75mg per month (50% of usual dose) for 6 months. Group B: 5 patients who received identical placebo tablet monthly for 6 months. Patients were followed up by bone markers (BsALP & wPTH), BMD at both femoral neck and lumbar spines regions measured by DEXA scan, and bone minerals (Ca, PO$ & CaxPO4 product), all measured at baseline and 6 months later.