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Pamidronate, Vitamin D, and Calcium for the Bone Disease of Kidney and Heart Transplantation

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Transplant Bone Disease
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00302627
Lead Sponsor
Providence Health & Services
Brief Summary

Bone is lost rapidly and fractures occur in 10-20% of patients who receive organ transplants within 2 years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term effects of a pamidronate-vitamin D-calcium regimen on bone loss, fractures, and safety in recipients of kidney and heart transplants.

Detailed Description

Pamidronate improves bone mass in numerous disorders of bone. Other bisphosphonates, as well as pamidronate, have been proven to be beneficial in steroid-related bone disorders. Steroid treatment is a major cause of bone loss after organ transplantation. Small, short-term studies suggest that pamidronate prevents bone loss in kidney and heart transplant recipients.

Many bisphosphonates cannot be used in patients with decreased kidney function. However, pamidronate can be given to these patients. This is an advantage of pamidronate in kidney and heart transplantation because of the frequent occurrence of decreased kidney function in these groups. Another advantage of pamidronate is that it is administered intravenously. Oral bisphosphonates commonly produce esophagitis, which is a challenging problem in the transplant population. Potential side-effects of pamidronate include transient hypocalcemia, lymphopenia, low-grade fever, myalgias and nausea. Recently, rare cases of proteinuria and kidney failure were reported in cancer patients receiving high-dose pamidronate. Although this side effect has not been reported in other types of patients receiving pamidronate, this is a safety concern that warrants further scrutiny in the transplant population.

In addition to bisphosphonate treatment, supplementation with calcium and vitamin D may preserve bone after organ transplantation. Prior studies have compared bisphosphonates to calcium and vitamin D regimens. However, a combination regimen including each of these treatments may preserve bone mass better than a single treatment. Data regarding treatment with a combination of a bisphosphonate, calcium, and vitamin D are lacking in kidney and heart transplantation.

Comparison(s): In a prospective, open-label, single arm trial, Pamidronate (60-90 mg) is administered within 2 weeks after kidney or heart transplant and every 6 months for 2 years. Participants are prescribed vitamin D 800 units/d or calcitriol 0.25 microgram/d if serum creatinine is greater than 2 mg/dl, and calcium carbonate 1500 mg/d.

The primary outcome is bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after years 1 and 2. Fracture events and serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, creatinine, and dipstick proteinuria are also measured.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
43
Inclusion Criteria
  • Kidney or heart transplant recipients
Exclusion Criteria
  • Hyperparathyroidism

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Pamidronate, Vitamin D, and Calciumvitamin D60mg or 90mg given at baseline, 6,12,18, and 24 months vitamin D 800 units/day calcium carbonate 1500 milligrams/day
Pamidronate, Vitamin D, and CalciumPamidronate60mg or 90mg given at baseline, 6,12,18, and 24 months vitamin D 800 units/day calcium carbonate 1500 milligrams/day
Pamidronate, Vitamin D, and CalciumCalcium Carbonate60mg or 90mg given at baseline, 6,12,18, and 24 months vitamin D 800 units/day calcium carbonate 1500 milligrams/day
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometryEvery 12 months

Performed at 1 year and 2 years.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
proteinuriaEvery 6 months

Evaluated at 6,12,18 months and 2 years

serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rateEvery 6 months

Performed at 6,12,18 months and 2 years

serum calciumEvery 6 months

baseline, 6,12,18 months and 2 years

Fracture eventsEvery 6 months

Evaluated at 6, 12, 18 months and 2 years

parathyroid hormoneEvery 6 months

baseline, 6,12,18 months and 2 years

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Providence Medical Research Center

🇺🇸

Spokane, Washington, United States

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