Risk of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Patients Treated with Zoledronic or Alendronic Acid: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This study compares the risk of jaw bone death in patients taking zoledronic or alendronic acid for osteoporosis.

Contribution

The study provides updated evidence on the relative risk and timing of osteonecrosis of the jaw between two bisphosphonates.

Findings

Zoledronic acid is associated with a higher incidence and earlier onset of osteonecrosis of the jaw compared to alendronic acid.

Longer bisphosphonate use increases the risk of osteonecrosis, with a fourfold increase after 5 years of alendronic acid use.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw primarily affects females over 60 years old on bisphosphonate therapy.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Bisphosphonates (BP) like zoledronic acid (ZA) and alendronic acid (AA) are used for osteoporosis (OP) or other bone-related conditions as well as to prevent the spread of metastases and in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. However, they have been associated with an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). This systematic review aimed to assess the incidence and risk of ONJ in osteoporotic patients treated with ZA or AA and evaluate the impact of treatment duration. Material and Methods: The systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The keywords “Zoledronic acid,” “Alendronic acid,” “Osteoporosis,” and “Osteonecrosis” were searched in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Selection criteria included studies on humans written in English, published from 2014. The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO register under the following number: CRD42024587046. Results: A total of 7 studies with 98,717 osteoporotic patients met the criteria, showing a higher ONJ incidence with ZA than AA. Six studies linked longer BP use to increased ONJ risk, which quadrupled after 5 years of AA use. A positive correlation was found between BP use (≥3 years) and ONJ in OP patients, primarily affecting females over 60. ONJ appeared after 1 year with AA, increasing over time, while ZA-related ONJ emerged as early as 5 months with a higher overall incidence. Conclusions: ZA poses a higher ONJ risk and incidence and earlier onset than AA, occurring within 5 months versus 1 year for AA. These findings emphasize the need for careful monitoring, especially in long-term BP therapy with additional risk factors.

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