A future genetic test may identify patients most suited for Actonel, bisphosphonates
Researchers from Columbia University are developing a genetic test that can be used to identify which patients may benefit the most from a prescription to buy Canadian Actonel.
Researchers from Columbia University are developing a genetic test that can be used to identify which patients may benefit the most from a prescription to buy Canadian Actonel.
This drug belongs to a class of medications known as bisphosphonates, which protect the bones from osteoporosis by preventing the natural breakdown process. Postmenopausal women may take these drugs orally, while doctors may administer intravenous treatments to cancer patients to prevent the spread of bone malignancies.
On rare occasions, bisphosphonates can cause injury to the jaw, prompting surgical removal of the bone. This can happen in up to one in 1,000 patients on oral medication, and up to 10 percent of those on intravenous drugs, according to the researchers.
This side effect is more likely among those with dental diseases or people who have invasive dental surgery. Some women prefer not to take these drugs, while some dentists refuse to perform certain procedures on patients taking bisphosphonates.
In the new study, the team of scientists have identified three genes that can predispose individuals to bisphosphonate-associated problems: IGFBP7, ABCC4 and RBMS3, the last of which can increase risk by 5.8 times, as published in the journal The Oncologist.
"Those who are positive for this genetic variation would select some other treatment, while those who are negative could take these medications with little fear of developing [jaw bone problems]," said researcher Athanasios Zavras, DMD, MS, DMSc.
Further research is needed to see if ethnicity influences this risk.
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