Osteopenia in children with cerebral palsy can be treated with oral alendronate.

PURPOSE

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common reasons of osteopenia in childhood. Patients have a significantly decreased bone mineral density, and painful fractures with minor traumas are common. Biphosphonates in the treatment of childhood osteoporosis are increasingly being used. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral alendronate treatment in children with cerebral palsy.

METHODS

Twenty-six children (16 boys and 10 girls) aged 3 to 17 years who had quadriplegic cerebral palsy and osteopenia were included in the study. The patients received alendronate (1 mg/kg/week), calcium (600 mg/day), and vitamin D(3) (400 U/day) over a year. A complete blood count, kidney and liver functional tests, plasma calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels, and lumbar vertebral bone mineral density were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Compared with pretreatment values, bone mineral density, serum calcium, and phosphate levels of the patients statistically increased and alkaline phosphatase levels decreased after treatment. No patient needed to interrupt treatment because of side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral alendronate at a dose of 1 mg/kg/week for the treatment of osteopenia in children with cerebral palsy was found to be safe and effective.