Background to AOCMF ARONJ Clinical Priority Program
(CPP)
Bisphosphonates (Alendronate, Zolendronate, Pamidronate and
others) and additional anti-osteoclastic drugs such as RANKL inhibitors
(Denosumab) are among the most prescribed drugs in the world today. 26 million
prescriptions for Alendronate in the US alone are used for treatment of
postmenopausal osteoporosis and 250,000 patients with metastatic bone cancer are
treated with high dose intravenous bisphosphonates. These drugs have been noted
to have profound influences on oral and orthopedic health including exacerbation
of dental diseases, osteonecrosis of the jaw requiring ablation, spiral
fractures of the femur, bone pain, and spinal and other foramenal stenosis, are
some of the areas of impact associated with anti-osteoclastic drugs. These
medications have also been associated with a marked decrease in femoral neck
fractures, compression fractures of the spine and other osteoporotic fractures
such as wrist and humerus.
AOCMF launched a CPP program sponsoring diverse research projects to
investigate on the field of ARONJ and is excited to share further results after
a very successful first AOCMF ARONJ Conference in 2016, in London.