Minodronic acid suppresses gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-induced bone remodeling biomarkers: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Estrogen deprivation therapy for myoma/adenomyosis decreases bone mineral density and can only be applied in the short term, as temporizing measures in the premenopausal woman.

Objective: To examine the effects of bisphosphonate minodronic acid on markers of bone turnover over a 6-month period in women receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 19 premenopausal patients with myoma/adenomyosis, who received GnRHa (leuprolide acetate, 1.88 mg/month or buserelin acetate, 900 µg/day) for 6 months from January 2014 to December 2014. Eight patients concomitantly received minodronic acid 50 mg every month during GnRHa therapy, and 11 treated with GnRHa alone. To compare these data in a case-controlled study, we analyzed an age-matched group of seven (premature or natural) menopausal women treated with minodronic acid. The primary outcome was percent changes in bone turnover markers in urine at 6 months.

Results: In menopausal women group, minodronic acid (50 mg once-monthly) for 6 months decreased urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type 1 collagen (NTX). Women receiving a GnRHa had a significant increase in urinary DPD and TNX at 6 months while minodronic acid during GnRHa therapy improved urinary levels of DPD and NTX to near baseline.

Conclusion: Minodronic acid treatment appears to be promising in women with secondary bone loss receiving GnRHa treatment.