Osteoporosis Prevention After Heart Transplant

Completed · Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Osteoporosis, Cardiac Transplantation

In brief

During the first year after a heart transplant, people often rapidly lose bone from their spine and hips. About 35 percent of people who receive heart transplants will suffer broken bones during the first year after transplantation. This study will compare the safety and effectiveness of the drug alendronate (Fosamax) and the active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) in preventing bone loss at the spine and hip after a heart transplant. In this study, people who have had a successful heart transplant will receive either active alendronate and a "dummy pill" instead of calcitriol, or active calcitriol and a dummy pill instead of alendronate for the first year after their transplant, starting within 1 month after transplant surgery. We will measure bone density in the hip and spine at the start of the study and after 6 and 12 months, and will also check for broken bones in the spine. This research should lead to ways of preventing this crippling form of osteoporosis.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT00000412
Run by
Columbia University
People needed
149
Starts
1997-09-01
Expected to finish
2002-04-01
Last updated by the study team
2015-07-07

Who can join

Age: 20 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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