Bisphosphonates improve pain and halt progression of osteoarthritis: Study
(Boston) - Osteporosis drug Bisphosphonates appear to be safe and beneficial for osteoarthritis patients. They belong to class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone density and used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 300 million suffering with the condition, yet there are no effective treatments to stop the disease or its progression. One of the lesions in OA that causes pain and progression of the structural pathology of the disease are bone marrow lesions.
Researchers believe bisphosphonates may alter bone marrow lesions, and thereby could improve pain in OA and halt its progression. Alternatively, they could also alter the mechanical properties of bone, thereby potentially contributing to detrimental effects.
Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a longitudinal cohort of people with or at risk for knee OA, the researchers identified women who started bisphosphonates and matched them to women who weren't on the drug. Measurements in bone marrow lesion volume were taken when they first started on bisphosphonate and then a year later. Changes in bone marrow lesion volume between the two groups were then compared.
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