Disturbances in bone mineralization are frequent in cystic fibrosis but few st udies have focused on the use of biphosphonates in this indication, and none on the use of oral etidronate. We report our experience using this latter treatment . Methods. -The study was retrospective and included five children and three ad ults with cystic fibrosis (six males and two females) aged seven to 30:years wit h Z-scores for lumbar bone density lower than-2:SD after one year of calcium ( 1:g/day) and vitamin D (900:UI/day and 300:000:UI/6:months) supplementation. All were treated during one year with etidronate: four courses of 15:days (one cour se per trimester) with doses ranging from 4 to 8:mg/kg per day. Calcium and vita min D supplementation was continued between the etidronate treatment course. Tot al body and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) were measured three times: at the beginning and the end of the year of calcium and vitamin D supplementation and at the end of the year of supplementation plus the four courses of etidronate treatment. Resu lts. -The increase in BMD in absolute value (g/cm2) and in Z-score was signifi cantly higher (P < 0.05) after the year of combined supplementation and etidron ate treatment (total body g/cm2: 3 ±1%, Z-score: 2 ±1%and lumbar spine g/cm 2: 6 ±5%, Z-score: 3 ±4%) than after supplementation alone (total body g/cm 2:-1 ±3%, Z-score:-4 ±3%and lumbar spine g/cm2:-1 ±3%, Z-score:-4 ± 4%). Supplementation alone improved the total BMD in only one patient and the l umbar BMD in three, whereas after etidronate treatment the total and lumbar BMD were improved in the eight patients. None of the patients presented with side ef fects that could be attributed to the treatment. Conclusion. -Oral etidronate t reatment is well-tolerated and capable of improving bone mineralization in pati ents with cystic fibrosis. Further work will be necessary to determine the optim al dosage and the optimal frequency for the treatment series.
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