Infusion of ibandronate once every 3 months effectively decreases bone resorption markers and increases bone mineral density in Chinese postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a 1-year study

The efficacy and safety of intravenous ibandronate were evaluated in postmenopausal osteoporosis women in China. In this multicenter, positive drug-controlled study, 158 postmenopausal osteoporotic women were randomized to receive 2 mg ibandronate given intravenously once every 3 months or 70 mg alendronate given orally once per week. All women also received supplemental calcium (500 mg) and vitamin D (200 IU) daily. One hundred fifty-one patients completed the 1-year study. Ibandronate produced mean increases in bone mineral density (BMD) by 4.27% at the lumbar spine, 3.48% at the femoral neck, and 2.03% at the trochanter. Mean increases in BMD by 4.24% at the lumbar spine, 2.72% at the femoral neck, and 2.99% at the trochanter were observed in the alendronate group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in BMD in all sites measured. Significant decreases in serum c-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were found in the two groups after 1 and 3 months of treatment, respectively; these serum CTX and ALP levels were then maintained at the decreased levels throughout the study period (12 months). No changes of stature were found in the patients of the two groups. Adverse events were similar in the two groups, except more mild muscle pain was observed in the first month after infusion of ibandronate than with oral alendronate (P < 0.001). The results observed in Chinese patients may support the observation that intravenous ibandronate significantly reduced bone resorption and increased BMD with good tolerance in Chinese postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Use of intravenous ibandronate possibly could potentially improve compliance as compared with other oral bisphosphonates because it may avoid the peptic side effects of oral bisphosphonate.