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TIvanhoe Newswire) — A single infusion of a bisphosphonate drug compared to taking a daily treatment of the drug may work better for patients with Paget’s disease.

Paget’s disease causes a malfunction in the normal process of bone remodeling. Normally, bone continuously breaks down and rebuilds. In patients with Paget’s disease, this process of bone destruction and growth is altered. For people with the disease, bones break more easily. An estimated 3 percent of people older than 40 have Paget’s disease.

Bisphosphonate therapy is often used to treat Paget’s disease and is designed to help the body produce normal bone.

Recently, a group of researchers conducted an international research study comparing the effectiveness of the leading oral bisphosphonate, risedronate, or Actonel, to a single 15-minute infusion of a bisphosphonate treatment called zoledronic acid, also known as Zometa.

The researchers conducted two randomized, controlled trials. A total of 357 men and women with Paget’s disease were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized to receive a single infusion of zoledronic acid followed by placebo tablets for 60 days or a saline infusion followed by 30 mg of risedronate a day for 60 days.

At six months, 96 percent of patients receiving zoledronic acid had a high response rate, compared to about 74 percent of patients receiving risedronate.

Researchers conclude a single infusion of a bisphosphonate treatment is a better therapy than taking a daily dose of the medication.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day. To subscribe, go to http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2005;353:898-908