Pamidronate treatment of severe osteogenesis imperfecta in a newborn infant

Fatality owing to pulmonary hemorrhage following pamidronate disodium administration in a neonate with osteogenesis imperfecta type 2: A case report

We report the case of a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) who developed pulmonary hemorrhage 4 d after pamidronate disodium (PA) administration, despite a relatively stable respiratory status. Bisphosphonates are introduced to reduce osteoclast activity and are now widely used in patients with OI. Bisphosphonates are typically well-tolerated in children, and the standard of care involves cyclic intravenous administration of PA. However, in practice, there is limited experience with the use of PA for severe OI during the neonatal period, and its safety remains uncertain. This report aimed to describe the respiratory events potentially associated with PA in a neonatal patient with OI type 2, suggesting that serious life-threatening complications of pulmonary hemorrhage may occur after PA administration. Further studies are required to assess the relationship between pulmonary hemorrhage and PA administration, aiming to enhance prophylaxis measures.

Comprehensive pain management strategy for infants with moderate to severe osteogenesis imperfecta in the perinatal period

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic heterogeneous disorder that causes increased bone fragility and recurrent fractures. For infants with OI and diffuse fractures, pain management, which is nuanced and specific for this population, is of the utmost importance to their neonatal care. Through experience at our center, we have developed a standard approach that has been successful in optimizing survival for these infants during this tenuous period. In this paper, we outline our multidisciplinary approach to pain management for infants with moderate to severe OI during the neonatal period, with emphasis on promotion of fracture healing and adequate pain control.

Skeletal dysplasias

The skeletal dysplasias are a group of more than 450 heritable disorders of bone. They frequently present in the newborn period with disproportion, radiographic abnormalities, and occasionally other organ system abnormalities. For improved clinical care, it is important to determine a precise diagnosis to aid in management, familial recurrence, and identify those disorders highly associated with mortality. Long-term management of these disorders is predicated on an understanding of the associated skeletal system abnormalities, and these children are best served by a team approach to health care surveillance.

Cyclic pamidronate infusion for neonatal-onset osteogenesis imperfecta

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI; MIM number 259420) suffer from low bone mass, fractures, and bone pain since birth, and have poor prognosis. This study assessed the outcome of patients with severe OI who were treated with cyclic pamidronate prior to the age of 1 year.

METHODS

The six patients, who had bone fractures either in utero or in their 1st month of life, were treated with cyclic pamidronate from a mean age of 2.8 months.

RESULTS

All the patients tolerated the infusion, except for having transient hypocalcemia at the first infusion. Decreases in irritability and improvements in feeding were observed 2-3 months after the first infusion. All patients showed a rapid increase in bone mineral density over the first 2 years. Fractures occurred at a rate of 0.6/year. At a mean age of 6.4 years, five patients with no interruption in treatment had normal ambulatory function, but they were short in height.

CONCLUSION

Patients with neonatal OI can have a favorable outcome when treated with cyclic pamidronate infusions early in life.

Complications of pamidronate therapy in paediatric osteoporosis

PURPOSE

Pamidronate, used for the treatment of paediatric osteoporosis, reduces the fracture rate and improves ambulatory status. Intravenous pamidronate therapy has known complications which have not been stratified based on its dose and distribution. This study aims to assess the early minor and major medical and late surgical complications and the effect of the dose and regimen of infusion on these events in paediatric osteoporosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three regimens for pamidronate infusion were followed in sequential periods in 10 years. Regimen A delivered 1.5 mg/kg/day as a single dose once in 3 months. Regimen B delivered 2 mg/kg/day for 3 days twice a year, while regimen C delivered 1 mg/kg/day for 3 days every 3-4 months. Adverse events were classified as early (major and minor) or late (surgical).

RESULTS

Forty-eight children received 158 infusions using one of the three regimens. Twenty-nine complications occurred in 24 children. A significant difference in the complication rate was present among the three regimens (P = 0.005). Nineteen children had minor complications, mainly febrile reaction or asymptomatic hypocalcaemia. Four major complications consisting of one seizure, one respiratory distress and two hypocalcaemic tetany were encountered, all with regimen B. Intraoperative complication faced was loss of position due to splintering of the cortex while rush rodding. This was seen in 20% of the long bone segments operated in those who received pamidronate as compared to 4.4% of the segments which were operated prior to the initiation of pamidronate therapy; the odds of splintering were 5.4 times higher for those patients who were bone segment rodded after pamidronate therapy.

DISCUSSION

Intravenous pamidronate is associated with complications in 50% of children with paediatric osteoporosis, with a dose-dependent significant difference. Major complications are not uncommon with higher doses and can be avoided by increasing the number of doses per year and decreasing the dose per cycle. Surgical difficulty, when possible, can be avoided by correcting any major deformities at presentation prior to the induction of pamidronate therapy.

Characterising and treating osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta is characterised by bone fragility leading to fracture and bone deformity, chronic bone pain and reduced mobility. Presentation in infancy may be anticipated through shortened or bowed femurs on antenatal ultrasound scanning, or because of family history. Other conditions can present in the neonatal period with osteoporosis and fractures, but clinical features should allow differentiation. Management is multidisciplinary, with the mainstay of medical intervention being the use of bisphosphonates. Intervention with these medications, in association with specialised nursing, physio- and occupational therapy input, has reduced fracture frequency by up to 50% in published series, and has shown significant effects on vertebral morphometry when started early (around 6 weeks age). Outcomes in older children are encouraging with a reduction in fracture frequency of up to 50%; however, the longer term effects of early intervention remain to be determined. In particular the effects on life-limiting structural outcomes such as scoliosis and basilar invagination remain unclear.

Effects of bisphosphonates in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: an AACPDM systematic review

This systematic review of the effects of bisphosphonate treatment in children with osteogenesis imperfecta was conducted using the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology for developing systematic reviews of treatment interventions (Revision 1.1) 2004. Despite a large body of published literature, there have been only eight studies with a sufficiently high level of internal validity to be truly informative. These studies confirm improvement in bone density. Many, but not all studies, demonstrate reduction in fracture rate and enhanced growth. There has been extremely limited evaluation of broader treatment impacts such as deformity, need for orthopedic surgery, pain, functioning, or quality of life. Short-term side effects were minimal. Which medication and dosing regimen is optimal and how long patients should be treated are unclear. This body of evidence would be strengthened by a larger controlled trial, because many studies lacked adequate power to evaluate stated outcomes. These studies do not address the impacts of bisphosphonates in children with milder forms of osteogenesis imperfecta and severe forms that are not due to mutations in the type I pro-collagen gene (e.g. types VII and VIII). Additional research is needed into treatment of infants. More studies evaluating medication choices, optimal dosing, duration of treatment, post-treatment impacts, and long-term side effects are necessary.

Systematic review of effectiveness of bisphosphonates in treatment of low bone mineral density and fragility fractures in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

AIMS

To evaluate the currently available evidence for the effectiveness of bisphosphonates in children with low bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fractures associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and the safety of bisphosphonates in JIA and other conditions.

METHODS

Literature databases were searched using a structured search strategy. The effectiveness review included any studies of children with JIA treated with bisphosphonates. The safety review also included studies of osteogenesis imperfecta. Quantitative data analysis was not undertaken because of the heterogeneity of the studies; findings were summarised using tables and narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Ninety four studies were identified. Sixteen studies (78 JIA children) were included in the effectiveness review: one randomised controlled trial, three controlled cohort studies, 11 case series, and one case report. At baseline, children had low BMD below the expected values for age and sex matched children. In all studies, treatment with bisphosphonates increased BMD compared with baseline: the mean percentage increase in spine BMD ranged from 4.5% to 19.1%. Overall, studies were heterogeneous and of variable quality. A total of 59 papers were included in the safety review; treatment durations were up to three years. The most common side effect was a flu-like reaction with intravenous treatment. This occurred during the first infusion and was transient; the symptoms were managed with paracetamol and did not occur during subsequent cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

Bisphosphonates are a promising treatment for low BMD and fragility fractures in children with JIA. However, the quality of the current evidence is variable and better studies are needed to more clearly assess their role.

Effects of intravenous pamidronate treatment in infants with osteogenesis imperfecta: clinical and histomorphometric outcome

Clinical and histomorphometric outcome was compared between children with OI who had received pamidronate since infancy and age-matched patients who had never received pamidronate. Pamidronate was associated with improved vertebral shape and mass, higher cortical width, increased cancellous bone volume, and suppressed bone turnover.

INTRODUCTION

Observations in small patient series indicate that infants with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) benefit from treatment with cyclical intravenous pamidronate. However, detailed analyses of outcome are lacking for this age group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical outcome was evaluated in 29 children with OI types I (n = 3), III (n = 14), or IV (n = 12) who started pamidronate therapy before 2 years of age (age at treatment onset: median, 6 months; range, 2 weeks to 23 months) and who had completed 3 years of treatment (total annual pamidronate dose, 9 mg/kg). They were compared with a historical control group of 29 untreated children with severe OI who were matched for OI type and age at the 3-year treatment time-point. In addition, iliac bone histomorphometry was compared between 24 pamidronate-treated patients and 24 age-matched OI patients who had not received pamidronate.

RESULTS

Morphometric evaluation of lumbar vertebrae (L(1)-L(4)) showed that the shape of vertebral bodies was better preserved in pamidronate-treated patients. This was accompanied by significantly higher lumbar spine areal and volumetric BMD (+110 and +96%, respectively) and a larger vertebral bone volume (+26%) on densitometry. Regarding mobility function, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory gross motor score was 50% greater in the pamidronate group (p < 0.001). Iliac bone histomorphometry showed 61% higher cortical width and 89% higher cancellous bone volume in pamidronate-treated patients. Bone formation rate per bone surface in the pamidronate group was only 17% that of untreated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this study suggests that cyclical pamidronate treatment started in infancy leads to improved bone strength and better gross motor function but also suppresses bone turnover markedly. It is therefore prudent to reserve pamidronate treatment to infant OI patients who present with a moderate to severe phenotype.

Pamidronate Treatment for Hypercalcemia in an Infant Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

A 17-day-old infant who was delivered 8 weeks premature underwent small bowel resection for necrotizing enterocolitis. During treatment with continuous infusions of furosemide and hydrocortisone, his total calcium concentration had increased. The calcium dose in his parenteral nutrition solution was decreased and then finally withheld. At 7 weeks of age and after 10 days of calcium-free parenteral nutrition, pamidronate 3 mg (1.1 mg/kg) in 60 ml of normal saline was infused over 6 hours. The infant's total serum calcium concentration decreased, but then 6 days later it had increased again; pamidronate 2 mg (0.7 mg/kg) in 40 ml of normal saline over 4 hours was administered. The patient demonstrated no signs or symptoms of adverse reactions to pamidronate. His serum calcium concentration returned to normal, and calcium-containing parenteral nutrition was tolerated. The use of pamidronate for treatment of hypercalcemia and chronic conditions that affect normal bone growth is increasing in children. Clinical trials in pediatric patients are necessary to determine how best to use bisphosphonates in this patient population.