eCite Digital Repository
A protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to compare the effect of annual infusions of zoledronic acid to placebo on knee structural change and knee pain over 24 months in knee osteoarthritis patients - ZAP2
Citation
Aitken, D and Laslett, LL and Cai, G and Hill, C and March, L and Wluka, AE and Wang, Y and Blizzard, L and Cicuttini, F and Jones, G, A protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to compare the effect of annual infusions of zoledronic acid to placebo on knee structural change and knee pain over 24 months in knee osteoarthritis patients - ZAP2, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 19, (1) Article 217. ISSN 1471-2474 (2018) [Contribution to Refereed Journal]
![]() | PDF 663Kb |
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1186/s12891-018-2143-2
Abstract
Background: Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that slow bone loss and are a promising candidate to treat knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In a pilot study, we demonstrated that zoledronic acid reduced knee pain and size of subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) over 6 months in knee OA patients with significant knee pain and BMLs. A longer, larger study is required to assess whether decreases in BML size will translate to reductions in cartilage loss over time. We are currently conducting a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial over 24 months that aims to compare the effect of annual infusions of zoledronic acid to placebo on knee structural change (assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) and knee pain in knee OA patients.
Methods: Two hundred sixty-four patients with clinical knee OA, significant knee pain and subchondral BMLs present on MRI will be recruited in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. They will be randomly allocated to the two arms of the study, receiving an annual identical intravenous infusion of either 100 mL of fluid containing zoledronic acid (5 mg/100 mL) or placebo (0.9% NaCl 100 mL), at baseline and 1 year later. MRI of the study knee will be performed at screening, month 6 and 24. Knee structure, symptoms and function will be assessed using validated methods. The primary outcome is absolute change in tibiofemoral cartilage volume (mm3) over 24 months. Secondary outcomes include improvement in knee pain over 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and reductions in BML size over 6 and 24 months. The primary analyses will be intention-to-treat analyses of primary and secondary outcomes. Per protocol analyses will be performed as the secondary analyses.
Discussion: This study will provide high-quality evidence to assess whether zoledronic acid has a novel disease modifying effect in OA by slowing cartilage loss and reducing pain. If zoledronic acid proves effective, it suggests great potential for cost savings through a delay or reduced need for joint replacement surgery, and potential for great improvements in quality of life for OA suffers.
Item Details
Item Type: | Contribution to Refereed Journal |
---|---|
Keywords: | zoledronic acid, osteoarthritis, cartilage, pain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Clinical sciences |
Research Field: | Rheumatology and arthritis |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical health |
Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Aitken, D (Associate Professor Dawn Aitken) |
UTAS Author: | Laslett, LL (Dr Laura Laslett) |
UTAS Author: | Cai, G (Mr Guoqi Cai) |
UTAS Author: | Blizzard, L (Professor Leigh Blizzard) |
UTAS Author: | Jones, G (Professor Graeme Jones) |
ID Code: | 127369 |
Year Published: | 2018 |
Funding Support: | National Health and Medical Research Council (1045415) |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 8 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2018-07-24 |
Last Modified: | 2019-12-23 |
Downloads: | 44 View Download Statistics |
Repository Staff Only: item control page