Treatment With Alendronate in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Condition(s) targeted: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Osteoporosis

Intervention: alendronate (Drug)

Phase: Phase 4

Status: Active, not recruiting

Sponsored by: Göteborg University

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Helena Forsblad d'Elia, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research

This prospective study will assess the effects of treatment with alendronate in osteoporotic patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Primary objectives:

- To investigate if alendronate effect bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by dual energy

x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in lumbar spine, hip and distal forearm and assessed by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in lumbar spine and by Xtreme CT in radius and tibia. Secondary objectives:

- To investigate if alendronate effects markers of bone remodeling

- To investigate if alendronate influences disease activity (BASDAI), spinal function

(BASFI), spinal movement (BASMI) and health related quality of life (SF-36).

Official title: Treatment With Alendronate in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), an Open Label Prospective Trial

Study design: Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome: Bone mineral density

Secondary outcome:

Markers of bone remodeling

Disease activity

Spinal function

Spinal movement

Health related quality of life

Detailed description: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease with a prevalence of 0. 5-1. 0%. Men are more commonly affected by the disease as compared to women, ratio 2. 6-4: 1. Pain in the back is a frequent symptom of debut. This pain is often associated with sacroilitis. In later stages also the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine are hit by the disease. Peripheral joints, eyes, heart, lungs and urinary tract may also be influenced. The risk of osteoporosis is increased in AS. However, this field has not yet been significantly studied probably due to several reasons such as the predominance of men with the disease and men are more seldom investigated for osteoporosis compared to women. When AS progresses syndesmophytes of the spine are developed which makes it difficult to assess bone mineral density (BMD) correctly with the conventional method, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Fractures in the spine are easy to foreseen since the pain of the patient might be misjudged to be related to increased disease activity. Fractures are also overlooked in radiographs in AS. AS is associated with both increased bone formation and increased bone resorption. The bone remodeling process in the spine renders the spine less flexible and stiffer and as a consequence also a quite small trauma may result in a fracture. These fractures are often instable risking injuring the spinal cord and nerves. Treatment with bisphosphonates in AS have indicated an anti-inflammatory effect. The effects of treatment with bisphosphonate on BMD assessed by DXA, QCT and Xtreme CT in AS has not yet been fully investigated.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 80 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Fulfill diagnostic criteria of ankylosing spondylitis, 1984 New York 2. Patients should previously have been included in the observational trial, "Clinical study of osteoporosis in ankylosing spondylitis". 3. Patients should not have changed treatment with any biologics the past 4 months. 4. Patients on glucocorticosteroids should not have changed the dose the last 4 months.

5. BMD with a T-score ≤ - 2,5 SD assessed by DXA in lumbar spine and/or hip (total hip

and/or neck).

6. BMD with a T-score ≤ - 2,0 SD assessed by DXA in lumbar spine and/or hip (total hip

and/or neck) and presence of any vertebral fracture, hip fracture or peripheral fragility fracture.

7. BMD with a T-score ≤ - 1,0 SD assessed by DXA in lumbar spine and/or hip (total hip

and/or neck) in patients on oral glucocorticosteroids Exclusion criteria: 1. Ongoing treatment with any bisphosphonate. 2. Ongoing treatment with any sex-hormone. 3. Renal insufficiency, creatinine clearance < 35 ml/min 4. Difficulties in swallowing and/or acute illness in the upper gastro-intestinal canal.

Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg S-413 45, Sweden

Starting date: October 2009
Last updated: October 1, 2014