Effect of a Convenient Single 90-mg Pamidronate Dose on Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Bone hyperresorption and osteoporosis are common complications after spinal cord injury (SCI). This study looks at using a single dose of pamidronate to help. The study compared a single 90mg dose of pamidronate to a previous study that used 30mg doses over 3 days to see if the single dose was as effective at reducing bone loss. The study found that a single dose of pamidronate was effective, but not as effective as the multiple smaller doses, and it also caused more fevers.

• 1
  Single-dose pamidronate 90 mg is effective at reducing biochemical markers of bone hyperresorption in patients with acute SCI but is associated with a greater incidence of fever compared with a 30 mg/d 3 3-day dosing regimen.
• 2
  Responses of biochemical markers of bone resorption (N-telopeptide and 24-hour urinary calcium excretion) to pamidronate 90 mg were consistent with an antiresorptive effect, although less than that observed with a 30 mg/d 3 3-day pamidronate dosing regimen.
• 3
  The frequency of hypocalcemia was greater, and hypophosphatemia was less than the 30 mg/d 33-day pamidronate dosing regimen.