Bisphosphonates - Bisphosphonates and ONJ

Bisphosphonates (also called diphosphonates) are a family of drugs that inhibit the loss of bone mass that is associated with a number of bone diseases, notably osteoporosis and osteitis deformans (Paget's disease). During the normal growth and aging process, new bone material is produced by the body, while existing bone material is absorbed. This cycling process maintains bone mass at a given level. When a person has a bone disease, such as osteoperosis, more bone is being absorbed than is being produced. The bones become porous and weaken.

To facilitate the bone absorption process, the body contains naturally occurring cells called osteoclasts that are responsible for causing the breakdown of bone tissue. In order to create a balance between bone absorption and bone creation, treatments for osteoperosis focus on slowing the absorption process. Bisphosphonate drugs bind with these osteoclasts, thereby destroying them, slowing the bone absorption process and inhibiting their detrimental effects on bone density levels.

Types of Bisphosphonate Drugs

Bisphosphonate drugs are divided into two main categories: nitrogenous bisphosphonates and non-nitrogenous bisphosphonates. The obvious difference between the two is that nitrogenous bisphosphonates contain nitrogen while non-nitrogenous bisphosphonates do not.

Nitrogenous bisphosphonates include:

Non-nitrogenous bisphosphonates include:

While the various types of bisphosphonate drugs have proven to be effective in treating a number of bone diseases, they have also been linked with the development of a serious bone condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Osteonecrosis of the jaw, or "dead jaw," is a type of bone disease that can be excruciatingly painful and disfiguring. Someone suffering from ONJ will likely present a variety of symptoms that can include localized pain of the jaw / maxillofacial region, a feeling of numbness or altered sensation, the loosening of teeth, soft tissue infections and/or the exposure of jawbone within the oral cavity.

Osteonecrosis itself is typically associated with the larger joints of the body, including the hips, shoulders, ankles and knees. There are between 10,000 and 20,000 new cases of osteonecrosis diagnosed each year in the United States. The irreversible bone disease could culminate in the death of jawbone tissue and joint collapse if left untreated.

ONJ & Bisphosphonates

Researchers are uncertain as to why the use of some bisphosphonate drugs can lead to the development of ONJ. It has been suggested that bisphosphonates prevent the formation of new blood vessels within bone tissue, inhibiting the natural healing process and allowing for the degradation of bone mass.

Estimates suggest that there have been more than 125 cases of ONJ caused as a result of using a bisphosphonate drug of some kind. More often than not, the bone disease has been linked with pamidronate and zoledronate; however, a number of recent cases have been linked with use of the oral bisphosphonate drug alendronate.

Fosamax & Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of developing a case of osteonecrosis of the jaw from the use of Fosamax, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact a personal injury lawyer to get information on Fosamax victims' rights and get the proverbial "ball rolling" on your Fosamax lawsuit.

MediaFact is an important online resource about drug side effects related to Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.