Cerebral Palsy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cerebral Palsy, including details on symptoms, causes, types. | ||||||||
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Low doses of pamidronate to treat osteopenia in children with severe cerebral palsy: a pilot study.Plotkin H, Coughlin S, Kreikemeier R, Heldt K, Bruzoni M, Lerner G Inherited Metabolic Diseases Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE 68198-5456, USA. hplotkin@unmc.edu The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of low doses of pamidronate in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) in non-ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty-three non-ambulatory children and adolescents (12 females, 11 males; mean age 10y [SD 5y], range 4y 1 mo-17 y 11 mo) with severe spastic quadriplegic CP and low BMD were recruited from a multidisciplinary clinic. Severity of CP was graded at Level IV (n=10) and Level V (n=13) using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Patients received intravenous pamidronate (4.12 mg/kg/y, maximum 45 mg/d) every 4 months. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD were measured at baseline and after 4 and 12 months. Twelve months after the first dose of pamidronate there was a significant increase in lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD (p<0.01 for both sites) and z scores compared with baseline values (p<0.01 for both sites). Mean BMD z scores increased 1.6 points for femoral neck and 1.9 points for lumbar spine after 12 months of pamidronate treatment. Serum intact parathyroid hormone increased significantly and cross-linked N-teleopeptide of type I collagen decreased significantly at 12 months. No significant side effect was noted. Low doses of pamidronate are well tolerated and significantly increase BMD in non-ambulatory children and adolescents with CP. Published 14 August 2006 in Dev Med Child Neurol, 48(9): 709-12.
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