[HLeix]

What process causes bone pain from Zometa?

by HLeix on Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:36 pm

I'm curious as to what causes bone pain when you're being treated with Zometa.

I asked my nurse and she said it was because the calcium was being forced into the bone. Does anyone know if it's correct?

Just curious.

[MrPotatohead]

Re: What process causes bone pain from Zometa?

by MrPotatohead on Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:37 pm

I do not think that what the nurse you refer to told you is correct.

The mechanism by which Zometa (zoledronic acid) works and protects against fractures is by disrupting the activity of osteoclasts, which are specialized cells that tear down bone.

Our bones are continually being renewed, just as are most tissues in the body. Osteoclasts tear down old bone and osteoblasts build up new bone to replace the old bone.

Multiple myeloma disrupts this process so that osteoclast activity is accelerated while osteoblast activity is dramatically reduced, hence the bones become thinner and weaker, increasing the danger of fractures. So while osteoblasts rebuild bones, adding calcium, Zometa does not increase this activity. Instead, it slows down the action of osteoclasts, which tear down bones, dumping calcium into the blood stream.

Hence, I do not see how Zometa, since it does not accelerate the bone-building activity of osteoblasts, can cause pain by “forcing” calcium into bones.