Bisphosphonate Action on the Appendicular Skeleton: Evidence for Differential Effects
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
A study to determine if the three licensed bisphosphonates (alendronate, ibandronate and
risedronate):a) affect the peripheral skeleton differently, as assessed by quantitative
ultrasound of bone (QUS), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and dual-energy
x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)? b) have different effects on bone cells and their activity as
assessed by flow cytometry and biochemical markers of bone cell activity? The aim of the
study is to compare the effects of three licensed bisphosphonates on bone quantity and
quality. There has been no such study before. Most of the measures of bone quantity and
quality used in this protocol have not been studied with any of these three agents. The
novelty of the study necessitates the establishment of reference ranges and this explains the
need for the inclusion of a group of young women.