It is hypothesized that effervescent alendronate will be able to maintain bone turnover markers within the pre-menopausal reference range and thereby reducing the likelihood of bone turnover associated changes (rebound effect), after discontinuation of denosumab treatment in a non-osteoporotic population.
Denosumab discontinuation is associated with a rebound effect in bone turnover and loss in bone mass density. These changes resulted in an increase of fracture incidence in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis back to background levels. However, no excess in fracture incidence was observed. Amongst patients who presented with vertebral fractures after treatment discontinuation, there was a slightly higher incidence of multiple vertebral fractures in patients discontinuing Prolia versus those who discontinued the placebo treatment. A 2 year, randomized, crossover study demonstrated that alendronate intake after discontinuing denosumab treatment, lead to remaining stable bone mass densitometry (BMD) values in postmenopausal women. In a study within a non-osteoporotic study population, ongoing at our department, increases in bone turnover are to be expected as soon as patients end study participation (i.e. open label treatment with denosumab, Prolia, anti-RANK ligand inhibition). It is currently recommended that alternative anti-resorptive therapy may be warranted after Prolia discontinuation. One study describes the use of oral alendronate after denosumab therapy to maintain bone mineral density. However, gastro-intestinal upset and tolerability, as well as difficulty in swallowing pills may limit oral alendronate compliance. To attenuate this concern, buffered soluble (effervescent) alendronate 70 mg, developed with the aim to improve the gastrointestinal tolerability through full dissolution of alendronate in buffered palatable solution before ingestion, will be used. This study wants to provide a follow up and study wether the use of effervescent alendronate after previous denosumab treatment can prevent a rebound effect in bone turnover that is to be expected when denosumab is discontinued. Subjects that completed our erosive hand osteoarthritis (OA) study and therefore discontinued denosumab 60 mg/every 3 months, will receive alendronate. Moreover, the study wants to asses if there is difference between using alendronate for six or twelve months, starting at the earliest three months but no later than four months after the last injection of denosumab.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
At the earliest three months but no later than four months after the last denosumab injection, subjects will be randomized to effervescent alendronate administered for either 24 or 48 weeks
Ghent University Hospital
Ghent, Belgium
CTX-I (C-terminal Telopeptide of Type I Collagen ) Bone Turnover Marker Levels
Difference in bone turnover marker C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) after 48 weeks. Comparisons made within and between both treatment arms
Time frame: 48 weeks
PINP (N-terminal Propeptide of Type I Procollagen) Bone Turnover Marker Levels
Difference in Bone Turnover Marker N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) After 48 Weeks. Comparisons are made both within and between both treatment arms.
Time frame: 48 weeks
Number of Patients With CTX-I (C-terminal Telopeptide of Type I Collagen )Levels Above the Reference Range at Week 48
The number of patients that do not maintain C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx-I) levels within the bone turnover marker reference range at week 48.
Time frame: 48 weeks
The Number of Patients PINP (N-terminal Propeptide of Type I Procollagen) Above Reference Range at Week 48
The number of patients that do not maintain N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) levels within the bone turnover marker reference range at week 48
Time frame: 48 weeks
Bone Mass Density at the Spine After 48 Weeks
Difference in bone mass density at the spine after 48 Weeks. Comparisons are made both within and between both treatment arms
Time frame: 48 weeks
Bone Mass Density at the Hip After 48 Weeks
Difference in Bone Mass Density at the hip After 48 Weeks. Comparisons are made both within and between both treatment arms.
Time frame: 48 weeks
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