SESSION Seq #14: Bisphosphonates & Osteonecrosis: Evidence from Population Research in the United States

Seq #14

Thursday, April 3, 2008

8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Hilton Anatole Hotel Monet Ballroom, Symposium - Group/Division Sponsored

Bisphosphonates & Osteonecrosis: Evidence from Population Research in the United States

Sponsored by: Behavioral Sciences

Description: 1. The frequency of osteonecrosis of the jaw in the United States remains a controversial topic. Incidence estimates range from >1 - 20% for intravenous BP users, with significantly lower numbers for users of oral formulations. While the number of published case-series increases daily, only few epidemiologic studies have been conducted. The aim of the symposium is to present data from available large population-based studies in the US and to provide an estimate of the osteonecrosis risk among users of bisphosphonates. Presenters will discuss results from clinical and experimental studies (V. Cartsos) as well as from different study groups including cancer patients at the SEER database, enrollees at medical insurance schemes and hospital patients (A. Zavras). The discussion will focus on identifying some of the idiosyncrasies of each study type and methodological limitations. A stratified approach according to mode of administration (intravenous vs. oral medications) will be adopted throughout the symposium. 2. Level: Suitable for clinical investigators and dentists 1. Hope to accomplish: At the end of the symposium participants will be able to distinguish how ONJ is assessed in various healthcare settings. This knowledge may enable the adoption of screening or surveillance programs. 4. Educational objectives: i)Recognize methodological challenges of population studies of osteonecrosis in the US. ii) Review new research findings from large epidemiologic studies. iii) Identify research algorithms that can track patients with signs and symptoms of ONJ within various research resources (hospitals, FDA, insurance databases, etc.)

Chairperson: A. ZAVRAS


	8:00 AM	Introductory Remarks
0052	8:05 AM	ONJ: Evidence from Animal and Human Experiments V. CARTSOS, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
	8:25 AM	Osteonecrosis among Cancer Patients in SEER Data G. WILKINSON, University of Texas, Galveston, USA
	8:45 AM	Population-based Studies in the U.S.:ONJ among Patients with Osteporosis or Cancer A. ZAVRAS, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
	9:25 AM	Discussion

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