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Review
. 2014 May 7:3:529.
doi: 10.1038/bonekey.2014.24. eCollection 2014.

Bisphosphonates and bone quality

Michael Pazianas  1 , Stefan van der Geest  2 , Paul Miller  3
Affiliations
Review

Bisphosphonates and bone quality

Michael Pazianas et al. Bonekey Rep. .

Abstract

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are bone-avid compounds used as first-line medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. They are also used in other skeletal pathologies such as Paget's and metastatic bone disease. They effectively reduce osteoclast viability and also activity in the resorptive phase of bone remodelling and help preserve bone micro-architecture, both major determinants of bone strength and ultimately of the susceptibility to fractures. The chemically distinctive structure of each BP used in the clinic determines their unique affinity, distribution/penetration throughout the bone and their individual effects on bone geometry, micro-architecture and composition or what we call 'bone quality'. BPs have no clinically significant anabolic effects. This review will touch upon some of the components of bone quality that could be affected by the administration of BPs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Michael Pazianas has received consultancy fees from Warner Chilcott. Stefan van der Geest is an ex-employee of Procter & Gamble. Paul Miller has received research grants from Warner Chilcott, Genentech, Eli Lilly, Merck & Co, Novartis and Amgen, and speaker and consultancy fees from Warner Chilcott, Eli Lilly, Merck & Co, Novartis, Amgen, Genentech and GlaxoSmithKline.

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