Clinical effects of zoledronic acid combined with calcium and vitamin D on postmenopausal osteoporosis

Objective To investigate the efficacy and security of 5 mg zoledronic acid injection combined with calcium and vitamin D on postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods Fifty-one postmenopausal osteoporosis patients who used zoledronic acid were collected as subjects. All patients were treated with intravenous infusion of 5 mg zoledronic acid for once, and orally took Calcitriol 0.25 μg/d and calcium carbonate 600 mg/d as basic medicine for one year. The difference in levels of calcium, phosphorus, bone metabolism markers, mineral density of lumbar vertebra and hip bone before treatment and 1 year after treatment were observed and compared; incidence of adverse reactions was observed. Results After one-year of treatment, the bone mineral densities of lumbar vertebra (the first, second, third, and forth lumbar vertebra, first to forth vertebra) and hip bone (neck of femur, trochanter of femur, internal femoral, total), levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D increased significantly, compared with those before medication (P 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 19.6%. Conclusions 5 mg zoledronic acid combined with calcium and vitamin D can reduce the levels of bone turnover markers of postmenopausal osteoporosis, increase bone mineral density of lumbar vertebra and hip bone, decrease loss of bone mass, and has low incidence of adverse reactions and high safety. Key words: Zoledronic acid; Postmenopausal osteoporosis; Bone turnover maker; Bone mineral density