Study on the role of zoledronic acid in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Objective: We aimed to assess the role of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on the risk of fracture and bone mineral density (BMD) in women with osteoporosis.

Methods: A double-blind and placebo-controlled design was taken in our study. 327 patients who received an intravenous 5-mg infusion zoledronic acid at day 0, at 12 months were enrolled in treatment group, and the remaining 333 patients who received placebo at the same time of the treatment group were included as control group. The incidence of fracture and BMD in the femoral neck and total hip were assessed.

Results: ZOL group had lower incidence of fracture at any clinical fracture, clinical vertebral fracture, non-vertebral fracture and hip fracture compared with placebo group at the time of one year and three years. We found that the BMD were significantly increased at femoral neck and total hip in ZOL group at the time of one year and three years follow-up when compared with placebo group (P < 0.05). The adverse events in the ZOL within three days of drug infusion were significantly higher than the control group, but we did not find significant difference in the serious adverse effect between the two groups.

Conclusions: Zoledronic acid (ZOL) could be used as a safe and effective method for female with osteoporosis.