Ulcerative esophagitis caused by etidronate

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are emerging as an important component in the treatment of established osteoporosis. Other possible clinical uses of bisphosphonates are currently being explored, such as prevention of perimenopausal bone loss, treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteopenia, and treatment of skeletal manifestations of malignancy. 1 Meunier PJ Confravreux E Tuninon I Hardouin C. Cyclic alendronate therapy prevents bone loss in the early postmenopausal period. J Bone Miner Res. 1995; 10 ([abstract]): S357 Google Scholar , 2 Mulder H Struys A. Intermittent cyclical etidronate in the prevention of corticosteroid-induced bone loss. Br J Rheumatol. 1994; 33: 348-350 Crossref PubMed Scopus (155) Google Scholar , 3 Berenson J Lichtenstein A Porter L. Efficacy of pamidronate in reducing skeletal events in patients with advanced multiple myeloma. New Engl J Med. 1996; 334: 488-493 Crossref PubMed Scopus (992) Google Scholar Among the bisphosphonates, etidronate has been the most extensively studied in the treatment of metabolic bone diseases and is currently the most widely available of all bisphosphonates for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The efficacy, clinical tolerance, and safety of etidronate have been well established in many controlled clinical trials. 4 Harris ST Watts NB Jackson RD. Four-year study of intermittent cyclic etidronate treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: three years of blinded therapy followed by one year of open therapy. Am J Med. 1993; 95: 557-567 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (382) Google Scholar , 5 Silberstein EB Schnur W. Cyclic oral phosphate and etidronate increase femoral and lumbar bone mineral density and reduce lumbar spine fracture rate over three years. J Nucl Med. 1992; 33: 1-5 PubMed Google Scholar