bisphosphonates


bis·phos·pho·nates

(bis-fos'fō-nāts), Synthetic pyrophosphate analogues that inhibit osteoclast resorption of bone.

bis·phos·pho·nates

(bis-fos'fŏ-nāts) Class of medications to treat osteoporosis.

bisphosphonates

A class of drugs that resemble pyrophosphate but are not readily hydrolysed. They interfere with the action of OSTEOCLASTS and thus prevent bone reabsorption in conditions such as PAGET'S DISEASE and OSTEOPOROSIS. They have an established place in the management of metastatic bone secondaries in cancer. The class includes drugs such as clodronate and etidronate (with no nitrogen moiety attached to the central carbon atom side chain), and pamidronate, alendronate, risendronate, ibandronic acid and zoledronic acid, with the nitrogen moiety. The latter group are more potent inhibitors of bone resorption but have more side effects.