Comparison of the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid and alendronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid and alendronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and to provide a clinical basis for the safe use of zoledronic acid. Methods Two hundred and ten female patients with postmenopausal osteoporosiswomen in Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University from January 2013 to January 2014 were selected as research objects, they were randomly divided into zoledronic acid group (105 cases) and alendronate group (105 cases), patients in the zoledronic acid group were given intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid injection 5 mg one time a year, the alendronate group were given alendronate 70 mg one week, both group had been treated for 24 months.The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and hip was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry before and after treatment, and the VAS score of the pain status was measured.The chest and lumbar spine were examined by X-ray, and the adverse reactions were recorded. Results After treatment, the BMD of the lumbar spine and hip of the zoledronic acid group and alendronate group were (-1.56±0.35) g/ cm2 and (-2.21±0.54) g/ cm2, (-1.91±0.32) g/ cm2 and (-2.16±0.26) g/ cm2, which were higher than those before treatment.The differences were statistically significant (t=6.253, 3.633, 5.834, 3.251, P<0.05). But the BMD of the lumbar spine and hip in the zoledronic acid group was significantly higher than that in the alendronate group, the difference was statistically significant (t=4.421, 5.262, P<0.05). The VAS scores of the alendronate group and the zoledronic acid group at 12 months, 24 months after treatment were (4.02±0.50) points and (3.01±0.44) points, (2.95±0.36) points and (1.82±0.24) points, which were significantly lower than those before the treatment, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The VAS score of zoledronic acid group at 12 months, 24 months after treatment were significantly lower than those of the alendronate group, the differences were statistically significant (t=3.513, 3.647, P<0.05). The fever incidence of the alendronate group was 2.86% (3/105), lower than that of the zoledronic acid group (30.48% (32/105)), the difference was statistically significant (χ2=32.901, P<0.01). Conclusion Zoledronic acid injection and alendronate are effective in the treatment of PMOP, but zoledronic acid has better effect on increasing bone density, reducing the degree of bone pain, with better compliance.Although it has increased the incidence of adverse reactions, it is well tolerated. Key words: Zoledronic Acid; Alendronate; Menopause; Osteoporosis; Efficacy; Safety