Pamidronate to Treat Osteogenesis Imperfecta in Children

This study will evaluate the effect of pamidronate-a drug that decreases bone resorption (breakdown)-on osteogenesis imperfecta. This is a genetic disorder of collagen, the major protein in bone. The abnormal collagen causes weak bones, and children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta sustain many fractures throughout their lives. They also have growth deficiency, curvature of the spine, crumbling teeth, hearing loss, easy bruising and heart and lung problems. The study will compare bone density, quality and strength, final adult height, trunk height, and functional ability in children who receive Pamidronate every 3 months, Pamidronate every 3 months + growth hormone injections, Pamidronate every 6 months, or Pamidronate every 6 months + growth hormone injections.Children 2 years of age and older with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (types III and IV) may be eligible for this study. Those enrolled will be randomly assigned to groups according to age; children two to four years of age will be randomly assigned to receive pamidronate every 3 or every 6 months. Children four years of age and older may participate in the growth hormone treatment groups. These children will continue on growth hormone until they reach their adult height or fail to grow as much as would be expected for someone on growth hormone.Patients will be followed in the clinic every 3 months for a history, physical examination, X-rays, blood tests, and measurements (weight, head circumference, and bone lengths). Children will receive a 3 to 4 hour infusion of pamidronate through an intravenous catheter (thin flexible tube placed in a vein) once a day for 3 days each visit. (Once inserted, the catheter is left in place to avoid multiple needle sticks for administering the drug and collecting blood samples.) Children who are taking growth hormone will be given the drug at the first treatment visit. At that time, the accompanying parent will be instructed on how to mix the drug and give injections. The child receives an injection 6 days a week (Sunday off).

Official Title

A Trial of Pamidronate in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Conditions

• Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Study Type

Interventional

Study Design

Treatment, Randomised, Open Label, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study.

Further Details

Primary Outcome Measures:

• Vertebral area, height, bone mineral density.

Secondary Outcome Measures: 

• Muscle and motor function

Study Start

June 2000

Eligibility & Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: up to 16 Years
• Genders Eligible for Study: Both
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria:

Children enrolled in this study will be limited to those with Sillence types III and IV OI, as determined by clinical and genetic criteria.

Most of the children who will be included in this study are already enrolled in the protocols Evaluation and Intervention for Ambulation, Growth, and Basilar Invagination in Osteogenesis Imperfecta (97-CH-0064) and Growth Hormone Therapy in Osteogenesis Imperfecta (92-CH-0034).

Screening of candidates will be based on telephone interviews with a parent, and referral records to include: AP and lateral radiographs of the lower extremities and spine, and family, developmental, fracture and medical history. An NIH clinical screening evaluation will be performed for those children who appear to have a history consistent with OI under protocol 04-CH-0077, Screening of and Diagnosis of Patients with Connective Tissue Disorder. Patients admitted for this screening visit who are less than four years of age as well as those older than 4 years of age but not meeting the criteria for inclusion in the growth hormone protocol, protocol 92-CH-0034, will be considered for enrolment in protocol 97-CH-0064 (Evaluation and Intervention for Ambulation, Growth and Basilar Invagination in OI), those older than four years who meet the criteria will be considered for co-enrolment in protocol 92-CH-0034.

The inclusion criteria for protocol 92-CH-0034 are as follows: patients must have a clinical/biochemical diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta types III or IV, height less than third percentile for age, and radiological evidence that long bone epiphyses have not yet fused.

Patients are excluded from protocol 92-CH-0034 if they have scoliosis of greater than 40 degrees unless scoliosis has been stable over the past two years, or evidence of severe basilar invagination.

Patients with previous exposure to bisphosphonates in outside trials will be considered for participation in this trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

Inability to comply with the visit schedule, maintenance of the physical therapy program, and ability to administer and comply with GH injections are central to our analysis of the outcomes of this study. Failure to comply with these conditions will constitute exclusion criteria.

Pregnancy.

Total Enrolment

60

Contact Details

Location Details

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland
United States, 20892 

Contact Details

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Phone No.: +1-(800) 411-1222
Email: prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
Website: http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/