[Use of clodronic acid in mineral metabolism conditions: state of the art in 2000].

Clodronic acid is a non-aminate bisphosphonate capable of inhibiting bone resorption. Pharmacological and clinical trials have shown the efficacy of clodronic acid in the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis and in all conditions of excess bone resorption, such as Paget's disease, malignant tumoral hypercalcemia and osteolytic metastases. Clodronic acid is the only bisphosphonate currently on the market available for both oral and parenteral administration. Intramuscular therapy with clodronic acid at a dose of 100 mg/week has shown significant effects on bone mineral density after 6 months treatment in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and these effects were maintained 3 years after the start of treatment. Increased bone mass is associated with a reduced risk of the onset of vertebral fractures. In a recent three-year study a significant increase was observed in bone mineral density associated with a 46% reduction in the incidence of vertebral fractures. The reduction in bone pain after parenteral treatment with clodronic acid is an important added value in the use of this molecule in osteopenic pathologies. Moreover the costs of parenteral clodronic acid treatment is certainly competitive compared to other drugs. Oral and parenteral clodronic acid was well tolerated in clinical trials. Gastrointestinal adverse effects were described only with high oral doses. These effects were transient and generally resolved without interrupting the treatment. Clodronic acid is an effective and well tolerated drug able to inhibit bone resorption. The low incidence of undesired effects at a gastroenteric level, the possibility of formulas for parenteral administration, the antalgic effect and low costs make clodronic acid an extremely interesting molecule for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and all conditions of excessive bone resorption, such as Paget's disease, malignant tumoral hypercalcemia, osteolytic metastasis and hyperparathyroidism.