A review of the literature on the use of biphosphonates found in 19 publications concerning 1,010 children and adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treated with corticosteroids:
- a high level of evidence that biphosphonates improve bone density in the areolar bone of the vertebral bodies of these patients;
- greater improvements in patients treated with intravenous zoledronate;
- an inconclusive benefit on fracture risk, or low levels of evidence due to lack of controlled data or small study numbers;
- generally good tolerability of biphosphonates, despite frequently reported “acute” adverse effects during the first infusion.
It confirms the recommendations for good clinical practice in DMD updated in 2018.
