Early appearance of osteonecrosis of the jaw after zoledronic acid in a patient with a long history of taking oral bisphosphonates

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Mar 27:2012:bcr1120115244. doi: 10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5244.

Abstract

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a serious side effect in patients receiving intravenous nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (B). It has also been reported to occur due to oral administration of B. Most cases will appear after receiving B for more than 1 year. The authors report a case of a 67-year-old woman with osteoporosis who had received oral alendronate sodium for 2 years and stopped the treatment due to dyspepsia. 18 months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer and bone metastases. She started a treatment based on aromatase inhibitors and zoledronic acid (Z). She developed ONJ soon after the third administration. She was treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and a chlorexidine colutory. She recovered 3 months later. ONJ secondary to Z may occur also earlier than it was thought in patients with a history of taking oral B.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / adverse effects*
  • Diphosphonates / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects*
  • Jaw Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Jaw Diseases / drug therapy
  • Osteonecrosis / chemically induced*
  • Osteonecrosis / drug therapy
  • Zoledronic Acid

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates
  • Imidazoles
  • Zoledronic Acid