Factors predicting the prognosis of oral alendronate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws: A 4‐year cohort study

Background Studies concerning prognostic factors specific for alendronate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) are rare. Methods We surveyed a cohort of 100 osteoporotic patients with 111 alendronate‐related ONJ lesions treated during a 4‐year period. Prognostic values of clinical variables and serum markers of bone turnover were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The cumulative complete response rate at 6 months was 48.65%. Serum bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) level >10 μg/L, lesion depth ≦ 10 mm, and lesions in anterior regions denoted a better chance of healing within 6 months and the adjusted hazard ratios were 2.48 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–4.37), 2.71 (95% CI, 1.57–4.70), and 3.94 (95% CI, 1.87–8.30), respectively. Conclusions Early discovery of lesions and prevention of their deeper extension are crucial for improving the prognosis of alendronate‐related ONJ. A higher pretreatment level of BSAP indicates a better prognosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 35: 1787–1795, 2013