Osteonecrosis of jaw bones induced by bisphosphonates : an approach to clarifying its underlying mechanism, prevention, and treatment

含氮双膦酸盐（NBP）引起的颌骨骨坏死（ONJ）及其后续暴露引起了广泛关注。其发病机制尚不清楚，目前尚无有效的防治方法。基于我们在基础动物实验中的发现，我们尝试用NBP替代依替膦酸盐（非NBP）治疗患有骨质疏松症或肿瘤骨转移的ONJ患者，并观察到死骨的快速清除和促进治愈的趋势。作为NBP的替代药物，依替膦酸盐可能有效地治疗或预防由NBP引起的ONJ或Mycobacteria。

Osteonecrosis of the jawbone (ONJ) and its ensuing exposure induced by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBP) are taking much attention. Its underlying mechanism is not clear and there are no active methods for its prevention and treatment. Based on our findings in basic, animal experiments, we tried substitution of NBPs to etidronate (a non-NBP) for ONJ-patients with osteoporosis or tumor bone-metastasis, and observed a rapid removal of sequestra and a tendency of promoted curing. Etidronate, as a substitution drug for NBP, may be effective at treating or preventing NBP-induced ONJ or myelitis.