A review published in the July, 2007 issue of Current Opinion In Rheumatology, looked at studies examining the use of bisphosphonates in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. Bisphosphonates are a class of medication that are used to treat conditions like osteoporosis since they can help reduce the resorption of bone in the body. Osteoporosis is a well known complication of AS.

One particular drug was used in the studies under review: pamidronate - click here for medication information from drugs.com.

Recent findings showed that pamidronate improved the clinical symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, especially in regards to the spinal disease, and in one study the peripheral arthritis was also improved. Inflammatory lesions shown in MRI were also improved.

However, these improvements were mild and temporary, and the review cautions that additional studies are required to "better define the real impact of pamidronate on ankylosing spondylitis and its place among the different treatment options for the disease." Click here to read the review abstract.

On March 24, 2007, in a Continuing Medical Education (CME) course cosponsored by the Spondylitis Association of America as well as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, presenter Susan Baker, MD, mentioned bisphosphonates as a possible new therapy for AS. She added that pamidronate did appear to have a very "slow onset of action" and took about 3 months to show effectiveness in the spinal disease.

Current Opinion in Rheumatology. 19(4):340-345, July 2007. Toussirot, Eric; Wendling, Daniel

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