The overall objective of this study is to define an effective therapeutic approach, using currently available medication, to prevent or mitigate the loss of bone mass and bone strength that occurs after acute spinal cord injury.
This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of zoledronic acid to evaluate its efficacy and safety over a 2 year period for the prevention of bone loss and maintenance of bone strength in individuals with recent onset SCI (see diagram below). Subjects will be randomized at the baseline visit to receive either zoledronic acid or placebo. At the end of the first year of the study, each treatment group will be re-randomized to either zoledronic acid or placebo to evaluate the durability of response to zoledronic acid and the utility of serum bone markers to guide therapeutic decision making. DXA imaging, CT imaging and bone markers will be obtained at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
Intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid 5 mg.
Placebo (saline) infusion to match zoledronic acid
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Percent Change in Bone Mass Density (BMD) in the Hip
Percent change of bone mass density (BMD) in the total hip (as measured by DXA)
Time frame: 0-12 months
Percent Change of Bone Mass Density (BMD) in the Femoral Neck
Percent change of bone mass density (BMD) in the femoral neck (as measured by DXA)
Time frame: 0-12 months
Percent Change in the Epiphyseal Integral Bone Mass Content (iBMC) of the Femur
Percent change in the epiphyseal integral bone mass content (iBMC) of the femur, as collected by CT.
Time frame: 0-12 months
Percent Change in the Metaphyseal Integral Bone Mass Content (iBMC) of the Femur
Percent change in the metaphyseal integral bone mass content (iBMC) of the femur, as collected by CT
Time frame: 0-12 months
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