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Pamidronate disodium, Aredia

Bisphosphonates

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Bisphosphonates diminish bone resorption through many different mechanisms including inhibition of osteoclasts activity. They are excreted by the kidney unmetabolized via glomerular filtration or stored in bones. Thus, a reduced glomerular filtration can lead to increased serum level.

MECHANISM OF KIDNEY INJURY

ATN (Acute tubular necrosis), Water/electrolyte disturbances, Glomerular injury, Podocyte Injury

CLINICAL KIDNEY SYNDROME

AKI, Proteinuria/Albuminuria, Nephrotic syndrome, Signs and symptoms related to electrolyte disturbances

CARDIOVASCULAR ADVERSE EFFECTS

Q-Tc prolongation --PMID: 8208655

LYTE ABNORMALITIES

Hypocalcemia, Hypophosphatemia

RISK FACTORS

The renal effect is dose-dependent and infusion time-dependent. Previous treatment with bisphosphonates and multiple cycles of treatments are also risk factors. Advanced age, baseline renal impairment, advanced cancer, multiple myeloma, hypercalcemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dehydration, concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs are also factors that increases the risk of bisphosphonates related nephrotoxicity.

Patients are more prone to hypocalcemia if they have pre-existing hypovitaminosis D, hypoparathyroidism, secondary hyperparathyroidism, hypomagnesemia, are receiving concurrent treatment with aminoglycoside or interferon alpha, concurrent treatment with loop diuretics and/or have osteoblastic metastases.

MITIGATION STRATEGIES

To prevent nephrotoxicity, serum creatinine and albuminuria should be monitored according to guidelines. Avoiding dehydration and the use of other nephrotoxic drugs is part of the prevention. When possible, oral bisphosphonate should be privileged. The treatment should be held in case of nephrotoxicity and restarted according to guidelines. There exists no standardized treatment. Lastly, the dose and infusion time should be decided according to guidelines and adjusted to creatinine clearance or glomerular filtrate rate. Bisphosphonates should generally be avoided in case of severe kidney disease (when the indication is not a hypercalcemia of malignancy). To prevent hypocalcemia, calcium and vitamin D supplements should be started prior to treatment initiation and other electrolytes abnormalities should be corrected. Serum electrolytes and vitamin D level should be monitored according to guidelines. The treatment should be held in case of hypocalcemia.

SUGGESTIONS 

Hold offending drug and rechallenge after AKI/proteinuria resolves, Discontinue offending drug, Corticosteroids and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been used for the treatment of bisphosphonates-induced nephrotic syndrome although their efficacy has not been demonstrated.

NOTES/COMMENTS

PHARMACOKINETICS

Molecular Weight

Volume of Distribution

Plasma Protein Binding

Metabolism

Bioavailability

Half-life elimination

Time to peak

Excretion

Dialyzable?

Unknown

REF:

Perazella MA, Markowitz GS. Bisphosphonate nephrotoxicity. Kidney Int. Dec 2008;74(11):1385-93. doi:10.1038/ki.2008.356

Woo KT, Chan CM. KDIGO clinical practice guidelines for bisphosphonate treatment in chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int. Sep 2011;80(5):553-4; author reply 554. doi:10.1038/ki.2011.202

Sauter M, Jülg B, Porubsky S, et al. Nephrotic-range proteinuria following pamidronate therapy in a patient with metastatic breast cancer: mitochondrial toxicity as a pathogenetic concept? Am J Kidney Dis. Jun 2006;47(6):1075-80. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.02.189

Tanvetyanon T, Stiff PJ. Management of the adverse effects associated with intravenous bisphosphonates. Ann Oncol. Jun 2006;17(6):897-907. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdj105

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Mehrotra B, Ruggiero S. Bisphosphonate complications including osteonecrosis of the jaw. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2006:356-60, 515. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2006.1.356
Markowitz GS, Appel GB, Fine PL, et al. Collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis following treatment with high-dose pamidronate. J Am Soc Nephrol. Jun 2001;12(6):1164-1172. doi:10.1681/ASN.V1261164

Berenson JR, Yellin O, Crowley J, et al. Prognostic factors and jaw and renal complications among multiple myeloma patients treated with zoledronic acid. Am J Hematol. Jan 2011;86(1):25-30. doi:10.1002/ajh.21912

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Rosen LS, Gordon D, Kaminski M, et al. Long-term efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid compared with pamidronate disodium in the treatment of skeletal complications in patients with advanced multiple myeloma or breast carcinoma: a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, comparative trial. Cancer. Oct 15 2003;98(8):1735-44. doi:10.1002/cncr.11701

Rosen LS, Gordon D, Kaminski M, et al. Zoledronic acid versus pamidronate in the treatment of skeletal metastases in patients with breast cancer or osteolytic lesions of multiple myeloma: a phase III, double-blind, comparative trial. Cancer J. 2001 Sep-Oct 2001;7(5):377-87.

Kunin M, Kopolovic J, Avigdor A, Holtzman EJ. Collapsing glomerulopathy induced by long-term treatment with standard-dose pamidronate in a myeloma patient. Nephrol Dial Transplant. Mar 2004;19(3):723-6. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfg567

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Ott SM. Pharmacology of Bisphosphonates in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Semin Dial. 2015 Jul-Aug 2015;28(4):363-9. doi:10.1111/sdi.12388

Raghu Subramanian C, Talluri S, Mullangi S, Lekkala MR, Moftakhar B. Review of Bone Modifying Agents in Metastatic Breast Cancer. Cureus. Feb 13 2021;13(2):e13332. doi:10.7759/cureus.13332

Domschke C, Schuetz F. Side effects of bone-targeted therapies in advanced breast cancer. Breast Care (Basel). Oct 2014;9(5):332-6. doi:10.1159/000368844

de Roij van Zuijdewijn C, van Dorp W, Florquin S, Roelofs J, Verburgh K. Bisphosphonate nephropathy: A case series and review of the literature. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 09 2021;87(9):3485-3491. doi:10.1111/bcp.14780

PATHOLOGY SLIDES:

ENTRY UPDATES:

Anna-Ève Turcotte

United States

Sep 25, 2022

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