Overview

Alendronate Treatment of Osteoporosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Status:
Active, not recruiting
Trial end date:
2021-12-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 160 consecutive patients who have been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and low bone mass and have been treated with alendronate (ALN) for five years or more. Patients will be randomized to discontinuation or continuation of alendronate. Outcomes are measured using dual energy absorptiometry (DXA), High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computer Tomography (HR-pQCT) and biochemical markers of bone metabolism and inflammation after 6 months, 1 and 2 years.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Aarhus
Treatments:
Alendronate
Calcium
Vitamin D
Vitamins
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients (> 18 years) with rheumatoid arthritis according to the ACR(1987 or
2010)/EULAR (2010) classification criteria (12)

- treated with alendronate for five years or more

- current T-score on DXA better than or equal to -2,5 (femoral) and -3,0 (vertebral)

- receiving treatment on an outpatient basis

- negative pregnancy test (serum HCG) prior to trial start and the use of contraception
throughout the study period and for 1 month after conclusion of the study period for
women of childbearing potential. Plasma T1/2 of ALN is less than 2 hours. The forms of
contraception include: intrauterine device (IUD) and hormonal anticontraceptives
(contraceptive pill, implant, patch or injection or vaginal ring). Sterile and
non-fertile participants do not have to use contraception. Sterile or non-fertile is
defined as having undergone surgical sterilization (vasectomy / bilateral tubectomy,
hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal status, defined as absence
of menstrual period for at least 12 months prior to enrollment. Postmenopause will be
confirmed by measurement of s-FSH prior to enrollment.

- ability and willingness to give written informed consent and to meet the requirements
of the trial protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

- history of hip fracture due to osteoporosis

- history of vertebral fracture of more than one vertebrae or other fragility fractures
within the last three years (fingers and toes not included)

- osteonecrosis of the jaw.

- history of or ongoing systemic GC treatment within the last 6 months (intraarticular
injections are approved)

- known allergy toward any components of the study medicine

- prior or ongoing treatment with other antiosteoporosis drugs such as hormone
replacement therapy or teriparatide

- active malignant disease

- metabolic bone disease other than osteoporosis

- hypo- or hyperthyroidism

- hypocalcaemia

- impaired renal function (eGFR <35ml/min)

- known disease of the esophagus that might impair the ability to swallow the tablets
such as achalasia, dysphagia or strictures

- history of upper gastrointestinal disease within 1 year prior to enrollment such as
peptic ulcer, upper GI bleeding, gastritis, duodenitis or surgical procedures to the
upper GI-tract

- allergy towards any of the substances in the study medicine