A recent NEJM article by Dennis Black MD denying a link between Fosamax and spontaneous mid-femur fractures has many doctors raising their eyebrows. Firstly, there is the problem of conflict of interest. The study was funded by Fosamax maker, Merck, and the authors are all on Merck's payroll. Secondly, the results of Dr Dennis Black contrast with the many reported case series on Fosamax induced spontaneous femur fractures from Joseph Lane, Odvina and Goh (and many others). Dr Black's results run counter to the experience of the medical community. Physicans are seeing and reporting more cases of atypical femur fractures on Fosamax. We never saw these before the fosamax era.
Why do the results of Dr Dennis Black contrast with bone histology studies that show abnormal bone formation on Fosamax, reporting "microdamage accumulation and reduced some mechanical properties of bone".
Why are these spontaneous mid-femur fractures happening at all ? Doesn't this indicate a severe problem with the underlying bone physiology? The bisphosphonate drug is producing abnormal, pathological bone demonstrated on histology slides. Dr Black's report does not address this question.
What about reports of a link with Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, another example of fosamax disturbing bone physiology, making the bones weaker, not stronger. Dr Black's report does not address this issue.
For More:
http://jeffreydach.com/2010/03/25/fosamax-whitewash-unconvincing-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
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A recent NEJM article by Dennis Black MD denying a link between Fosamax and spontaneous mid-femur fractures has many doctors raising their eyebrows. Firstly, there is the problem of conflict of interest. The study was funded by Fosamax maker, Merck, and the authors are all on Merck's payroll. Secondly, the results of Dr Dennis Black contrast with the many reported case series on Fosamax induced spontaneous femur fractures from Joseph Lane, Odvina and Goh (and many others). Dr Black's results run counter to the experience of the medical community. Physicans are seeing and reporting more cases of atypical femur fractures on Fosamax. We never saw these before the fosamax era.
Why do the results of Dr Dennis Black contrast with bone histology studies that show abnormal bone formation on Fosamax, reporting "microdamage accumulation and reduced some mechanical properties of bone".
Why are these spontaneous mid-femur fractures happening at all ? Doesn't this indicate a severe problem with the underlying bone physiology? The bisphosphonate drug is producing abnormal, pathological bone demonstrated on histology slides. Dr Black's report does not address this question.
What about reports of a link with Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, another example of fosamax disturbing bone physiology, making the bones weaker, not stronger. Dr Black's report does not address this issue.
For More:
http://jeffreydach.com/2010/03/25/fosamax-whitewash-unconvincing-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
jeffrey dach md
March 25, 2010 - 2:33pmThis Comment
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