Abstract

Purpose: This study addresses the efficacy of zoledronic acid treatment in osteoporotic patients with β-thalassemia.Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine thalassemic patients were enrolled in this study. Bone mineral density was measured using Dual energy x-ray absorbtiometry (DEXA), and biochemical markers of osteoporosis in serum and urine were measured at 0, 6, and 12 months of treatment. Patients with thalassemia were randomly received either zoledronic acid 4 mg IV once every six months or calcitriol 0.25 mcg / day for 12 months. A subgroup analysis was also performed according to gonadal status. Results: There were 21 males and 18 females, mean age of 23.1 ± 1.3 and bone age of 16.3±0.35 years. At the end of 12 months, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebra and femoral neck significantly increased in the zoledronic acid group. In patients with hypogonadism who received hormone replacement therapy, t-scores significantly increased. Serum NTX levels indicated significant increase in both treatment groups compared with the control group at the end of the treatment. A significant increase was obtained in urinary NTX level in hypogonadal patients who received zoledronic acid, and in serum NTX and IGF-1 levels in normogonadal patients who received calcitriol. Conclusion: In our study, zoledronic acid resulted in significant improvement in bone mineral density and t-scores. This improvement was in correlation with IGF-1 levels.

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