SM Bouzoubaa, Mahad Chaimae*, S Ait Lhaj and I Benyahya
Oral Surgery Department, Dental Consultation and Treatment Center, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco
*Corresponding Author: Mahad Chaimae, Oral Surgery Department, Dental Consultation and Treatment Center, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco.
Received: April 12, 2021; Published: : May 21, 2021
Citation: Mahad Chaimae., et al. “Bisphosphonates Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: Systematic Review of the Literature". Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 5.6 (2021): 104-111.
Objectives: The aim of this review is to assess the route of administration of bisphosphonates (BPs) most likely to generate osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) while determining the profile of patients receiving this type of treatment.
Methods: A literature search in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane of randomized controlled clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyzes was carried out between 2007 and 2018 using the terms bisphosphonates (BPs), oral, intravenous and osteonecrosis of the jaws.
The number of publications by year, type of publication and level of proof of the articles were assessed. Likewise, the incidences of occurrence of ONJ according to each route of administration of BPs and the profile of patients receiving this treatment were identified.
Results: 3456 publications published since 2007, mainly in oncology and maxillofacial journals, were reviewed. 6 publications whose level of proof corresponds to our objective were selected.
Discussion: Studies have shown a wide variety in design and a strong incidence of ONJ depending on the route of administration of Bps. A higher prevalence has been observed following intravenous administration.
Keywords: Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; Bisphosphonates; Oral Route; Venous Route
BPs-induced ONJ was first defined in 2007 by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) [1,2].
Three main characteristics make it possible to differentiate ONJ from delayed bone healing: patient recently or having previously received treatment with Bps, presence of necrotic bone exposure in the maxillofacial region that persists for more than eight weeks and absence of medical history of head and neck radiotherapy [2].
The first series of ONJ cases was published in 2003 by Marx and in 2004 by Ruggiero., et al [3,4]. Subsequently, several publications concerning ONM have emerged. The pathophysiology is not yet clear, common theories suggest a reduction in bone remodeling, an alteration of local vascularization and neoangiogenesis, an accumulation of microcracks and therefore infection of the bone via bone resorption independent of osteoclasts.
The symptomatology associated with ONJ induced by bisphosphonates is variable, it depends on the phase of development. In 2007, AAOMS established a classification of ONJ with 3 stages:
In 2009, AAOMS established a new classification adding a stage 0: no apparent clinical sign of bone necrosis but presence of non-specific clinical signs and symptoms [2].
BPs can be prescribed orally (VO) in the first place for benign pathologies such as osteoporosis with recourse to the venous route in case of patient intolerance. The intravenous (IV) route is more frequently used in malignant pathologies, for the treatment of breast, prostate, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal cancer, as well as in cases of multiple myeloma and bone metastases.
The occurrence of ONJ following the use of BPs is most often caused by a major triggering factor such as tooth extraction or other trauma to the oral cavity. Osteonecrosis is frequently localized in the mandibular premolo-molar region, the cortical bone is thicker and less vascularized in this area.
Due to the disparity in the incidence of this pathology, which varies between 0.01% and 6.7% worldwide, we carried out a systematic review of the literature with the objective of evaluating the route of administration of bisphosphonates that generate the most osteonecrosis of the jaw and to determine the profile of patients who receive bisphosphonate treatment [1].
A systematic search was performed on the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. The main ideas of the research topic were: Osteonecrosis of the jaw, Bisphosphonates and route of administration (intravenous or oral route).
Using the various keywords and Boolean equations, a total of 3456 articles were found. After eliminating, using the search filters, results with a publication date prior to 2007 as well as experimental animal studies, clinical case reports and case series, 902 publications were retained corresponding to comparative clinical studies, clinical trials, meta-analyzes, randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Following a methodological critical reading, by double reader, and the exclusion of irrelevant articles, 6 articles were selected for the study.
The retained articles were mainly from English-language journals (Table 1).
N° |
Author |
Title |
Review |
Country |
Year |
1 |
Petra Rugani, Gero Luschin, Norbert Jakse, Barbara Kirnbauer, Uwe Lang, Stephan Acham. |
Prevalence of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw after intravenous zoledronate infusions in patients with early breast cancer. |
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. |
Austria |
2013 |
2 |
Peter Gimsing, Kristina Carlson, Ingemar Turesson, Petrer Fayers, Anders Waage, Annette Vangsted, Anne Mylin, Christian Gluud, Gunnar Juliusson, Henrik Hjorth-Hansen, Ingerid Nesthus, Inger Marie S Dahl, Jan Westin, Johan Lanng Nielsen, Lene Meldgaard knudsen, Lucia Ahlberg, Martin Hjorth, Niles Frost Andersen, Olle Linder, Fin Wisloff. |
Effect of pamidronate 30 mg versus 90 mg on physical function in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (Nordic Myeloma Study Group) : a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. |
The lancet Oncology. |
Denmark, Norway, Sweden |
2010 |
3 |
Thomas Mucke, Herbert Deppe, Jana Hein, Klaus-Dietrich Wolff, David A.Mitchell, Marco R.Kesting, Margitta Retz, Jurgen E.Gschwend, Mark Thalgott. |
Prevention of Bisphosphonate-Related Ostonecrosis of the jaws in patients with prostate cancer treated with Zoledronic acid (a prospective study over 6 years). |
Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. |
Germany |
2016 |
4 |
James S. Goodwin, Jie Zhou, Yong-Fang Kuo, Jacques Baillargeon. |
Risk of jaw Osteonecrosis after intravenous bisphosphonates in cancer patients and patients without cancer. |
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. |
America |
2017 |
5 |
D.H. Solomon, E.Mercer, S.B.Woo, J.Avorn, S.Schneeweiss, N.Treister. |
Defining the epidemiology of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: prior work and current challenges. |
International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation |
USA |
2012 |
6 |
T. Shintani, Y. Hayashido, H.Mukasa, E. Akagi, M. Hoshino, Y. Ishida, T.Hamana, K. Okamoto, T. Kanda, K. Koizumi, Y. Yoshioka, R. Tani, S. Toratani, T. Okamoto. |
Comparison of the prognosis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw caused by oral and intravenous bisphosphonate. |
International Journal of Oral and Maxillo-facial Surgery. |
Japan |
2015 |
Table 1: Summary table of the articles selected.
Regarding demographic and clinical data for the 6 selected studies, the mean sample value was 89,829.5. The average age group of the study population was 51 years, ranging from 35 to 92 years, with a female predominance (Table 2).
Study number |
Sample size |
Age |
Sex |
1 |
100 |
43 - 60 years |
Women |
2 |
504 |
53 - 87 years |
Women: 200 |
Man: 304 |
|||
3 |
253 |
46 - 92 years |
Man |
4 |
29 459 |
65 - 85 years |
Women: 26 250 |
Man: 3209 |
|||
5 |
508 602 |
34 years |
- |
6 |
59 |
67 years |
Women: 39 |
Man: 20 |
Table 2: Age, sex and size of the samples studied.
Zoledronic acid by the intravenous route was the most widely used molecule in 3 of the studies selected with a dosage of 4 mg/month for 3 years with a reduction in the dose in cases of renal failure, followed by pamidronate in a multicenter clinical trial at double blind (study 2) (30 mg or 90 mg/month for 3 years).
Only two studies used both routes (oral and intravenous) for the treatment of benign pathologies such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease over an average duration of 61 months (Etidronate, Ibandronate, Résidronate, Minodronate) and malignant with an average of 25 months (Alendronate, Pamidronate and zoledronic acid) (studies 4 and 6) (Table 3).
Study number |
Type of disease |
BP Type |
Route and dose of administration |
1 |
Breast cancer |
Zoledronic acid |
IV 4 mg every 6 months for 3 years |
2 |
Multiple myeloma |
Pamidronate |
Pamidronate 30 mg: once/month for 3 years |
Pamidronate 90 mg: once/month for 3 years |
|||
3 |
Prostate cancer |
Zoledronic acid |
IV: 4 mg/4 weeks for 28.76 months |
4 |
Cancer-free: Osteoporosis, Paget's disease |
Without cancer: -Etidronate -Ibandronate |
VO: less than 1 month IV: with and without cancer |
With cancer: Breast, lung, genitourinary, gastrointestinal cancer, multiple myeloma |
With cancer: -Zoledronic Acid -Pamidronate |
||
5 |
Ostéoporose |
Acide Zolédronique |
IV: 5 mg/year |
6 |
Osteoporosis Paget's disease |
VO: -Alendronate -Residronate -Minodronate |
VO: 61 month average |
Hepatocellular carcinoma Prostate cancer Multiple myeloma |
IV: -Zoledronic Acid -Pamidronate -Alendronate |
IV : 25 month average |
Table 3: Type of bisphosphonates, dose and route of administration depending on the type of disease.
Four selected studies (1, 2, 3, 5) where BPs were administered only intravenously revealed the occurrence of ONJ with an average of 16 cases.
Two studies (4.6) using both oral and IV routes reported an average of 53 cases with ONJ.
All studies using the IV route have revealed a fairly large number of cases with ONJ with preferential mandibular localization.
The occurrence of ONJ can only be confirmed by the correlation of clinical and radiological signs which differ according to the stage of ONJ (Table 4).
Study number |
Clinical signs |
Radiological signs |
Onset of ONJ |
1 |
- Fistula with purulent drainage. |
-Persistence of non-remodeled bone in the extraction sites. -Thickening of Lamina Dura. - Alteration of bone trabeculation. |
- 5 cases (3 mandibular and 2 in the maxilla). |
2 |
-Tiredness. -Pain. -Bone lesions.
|
- |
-Pamidronate 30 mg: 2 cases appeared 31 to 40 months after the start of treatment. -Pamidronate 30 mg: 8 cases appeared up to 50 months after the start of treatment. |
3 |
- |
Non-healing exposed bone in mandible/maxilla for longer than 8 weeks |
40 cases |
4 |
- |
- |
Without cancer: -8 cases (IV route) -0 cases (VO route) |
With cancer: -40 cases (IV route) |
|||
5 |
- Infection of the mucous membrane. -Aseptic bone necrosis. -Unspecified anomaly of the teeth. |
- Poorly defined bone lesions. |
8 cases |
6 |
-Pain. -Mucosal inflammation. -Necrotic bone exposure. |
- Lytic bone lesions. |
VO: (16 mand / 12 max) -Stage 0-1: 4cases -Stage 2: 21cases -Stage 3: 2 cases |
-IV: (19 mand/12 max) - Stage 0-1: 8cases. -Stage 2: 20cases. -Stage 3: 4 cases. |
Table 4: Clinical and radiological signs correlated with the occurrence of ONJ.
ONJ was first described by AAOMS in 2003 by highlighting the presence of three main characteristics. A single article, published by Thomas Mücke., et al. adopted this classification in the diagnosis of ONJ, thus confirming the occurrence of 40 cases after administration of zoledronic acid by IV route [5]. The use of the AAOMS 2007 classification allowed D. H. Solomon., et al. to confirm the diagnosis of 8 cases of ONJ induced by BPs [6].
In the studies by Petra Rugani., et al., James S. Goodwin., et al. and T. Shintani, the authors used the latest AAOMS classification (2009) in order to minimize the margin of error in determining the incidence of ONJ. 5 cases were diagnosed in the first study [7], 48 cases under IV BPs in the second [8] and 59 cases in the last study (27 cases in the group treated with BP by VO and 32 cases in the group treated with by BP IV) [9]. In addition, only one study, by Peter Gimsing., et al. did not specify the classification used. The comparison of the cases was based on the dosage of BPs used intravenously (pamidronate 30 mg vs 90 mg) [10].
With regard to socio-demographic characteristics, the difference in age and sex found in these studies can be explained by the nature of the disease mentioned in each study. Women receive BPs treatment for conditions like osteoporosis and breast cancer, while men are treated with BPs for prostate cancer.
Oral BPs are used most often for the treatment of osteoporosis as well as other less common conditions such as Paget's disease and osteogenesis imperfecta in children. Over 190 million prescriptions for oral BPs have been dispensed worldwide [9], with Alendronate by far the most common oral BP prescribed [11]. However, IV BPs are mainly used for the treatment of tumor pathologies including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, malignant hypercalcemia or in cases of bone metastases [11]. In 2002 the United States government identified a total of four million patients with ONJ induced by zoledronic acid [12].
Clinically ONJ associated with BPs can be asymptomatic for several weeks or even months and only be discovered in the oral cavity by baring the bone. They are usually symptomatic and painful due to infection of the soft tissue damaged by the exposed bone [13]. The intensity of the symptoms is variable and depends on the stage of development of the lesion. During the functional latency phase, ONJ can remain asymptomatic without any bone exposure or any other sign, for weeks or months (31.1% of cases according to Marx., et al.), Especially when the BPs are administered by VO [14-16]. It is followed by the early phase where certain signs may appear before the clinically evident appearance of osteonecrosis such as halitosis, modification of periodontal tissues, mucous ulcer not healing, mobility or loss of teeth, and inexplicable infection of soft tissue [14,15]. The status phase is the last phase where the clinical appearance can fully confirm the diagnosis of ONJ according to the classification established by AAOMS. The most characteristic aspect is the exposure in the oral cavity of a necrotic, avascularized bone of a "wet sugar" consistency, and in particular of the extraction sockets that do not heal. The patient may also describe iterative expulsions of sequesters of varying size, as well as halitosis and/or labiomental hypoaesthesia.
The use of the IV route (Zoledronic acid and Pamidronate) leads to the appearance of clinical signs and the lesions to develop faster than in the OV, which can extend to the entire jaw, which has an impact on the quality of life of patients [6,7,10].
The radiological examination is an essential tool to confirm the diagnosis of ONJ. Several techniques can be used. D. H. Solomon., et al. used panoramic radiography to highlight the radiological signs corresponding to stage 0 of the pathology. These are ill-defined lytic lesions of the jawbones that are difficult to detect [6,9]. For Petra Rugani., et al. the CT scan shows more precisely the lesion and its extent. It presents as thickening of the lamina dura, narrowing of the inferior alveolar canal, and the persistence of un-remodeled bone in the extraction sites as ill-defined irregular radiolucency (osteolysis) or a mixture of radio-clarity and radio-opacity (osteosclerosis). In two patients on IV BPs the signs were pronounced at stage 0, the CT scan showed clouding and thickening of the sinus wall [7]. Imaging techniques aimed at predicting the onset of ONJ before detecting bone exposure are yet to be established [17]. The Fasting Serum C-terminal Telopeptide (CTX) test is currently widely used for this purpose. CTX is a biological marker used to measure the degree of bone resorption and remodeling. It can predict the development of ONJ in patients treated with BPs and thus establish an appropriate treatment plan [18-20]. According to Marx., et al. the rate of increase in CTX is 25.9 pg/ml per month after stopping BPs. Thus, the drug should be discontinued until the CTX level exceeds a value of 150 pg/ml [21].
Several risk factors can contribute to the onset of ONJ following administration of BPs. Certain local factors can promote the occurrence of osteonecrosis such as oral care (extractions, placement of implants, periapical and periodontal surgery involving the bone), tobacco consumption, the presence of a disease periodontal disease, or even defective oral hygiene. Infection is a classic component of ONJ. According to Thomas Mücke., et al. patients with a history of inflammation, dental diseases such as periodontitis and dental abscesses are 7 times more likely to develop ONJ. Poor oral hygiene promotes infection through the build-up of pathogenic bacteria that infect periodontal tissue. The healing and healing process is hampered especially with the use of BPs [18].
Systemic risk factors such as diabetes and corticosteroid consumption also promote the onset of ONJ. Corticosteroids cause a marked loss of bone mass and increase the risk of oral infections as they slow healing and alter the oral microflora [22]. Drug risk factors are linked to the direct toxicity of BPs. They are divided into two groups according to their chemical structures, first generation non-nitrogenated BPs or non-aminobisphosphonates (etidronate, clodronate, tiludronate) [13]. These BPs are rarely implicated in the occurrence of ONJ. No case of ONJ on etidronate has been confirmed to date [20]. As for nitrogenated BPs or aminobisphosphonates, administered intravenously (zoledronate, pamidronate) or orally (alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate), they are the most recent, the most powerful and the most involved in the occurrence of ONJ [23-25]. Marx reports that ONJs caused by IV BPs are more common, extensive, and difficult to treat or resolve than ONJs caused by oral BPs [3]. The use of IV BPs alone has been associated with a fairly high rate of ONJ regardless of the type of disease.
The length of exposure to treatment is probably one of the most important risk factors, the risk is even higher with the IV route [11,24,26]. According to a study carried out by Petra Rugani., et al. the prolonged duration and the resulting cumulative dose constitute a very important risk factor ranging from 1.5% in patients treated with IV BPs over a period of period of 4 to 12 months, 7.7% for 37 to 48 months and 11% after 4 years of treatment [18]. The results of the selected studies show that the duration of BP treatment and the resulting cumulative dose is a major risk factor for the occurrence of ONJ. The risk is all the higher with the IV route (Zoledronic acid even in reduced dose) used especially for the treatment of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, due to the prolonged half-life up to 10 years [1].
Further, more in-depth analytical studies should be carried out with larger samples to minimize the margin of error.
Given the frequency, difficulty of management and the often reserved prognosis of ONJ, we should focus our efforts on prevention. In fact, preventing the occurrence of ONJ requires close collaboration between the attending physician (oncologist, rheumatologist, hematologist) and the dental surgeon. Several scientific societies have established recommendations for the management of patients in the absence of ONJ before, during or after treatment with BP [1].
Each patient candidate for treatment with bisphosphonates must undergo an oral examination. The objective of this assessment will be to allow the patient to begin treatment after elimination of the infectious foci. In addition, the patient will be reminded of the need for monitoring and maintaining good oral hygiene in order to reduce the risks, particularly in malignant indications where the risk is greater. After clinical and radiological examinations, if necessary a conditioning of the oral cavity should be offered. Non-conservable teeth will be extracted, waiting at least for mucosal healing before starting treatment with BP. Conservative care can be performed during treatment regardless of the indication.
The recommendations during and after treatment with BP depend on the route of administration used:
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.
Copyright: © 2021 Mahad Chaimae., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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