Endoscopic and hematimetric evaluation on risedronate safety profile among patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices

• Grant number: 17/03246-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Gomes Romeiro
• Grantee: Beatriz Imai Crisostomo Correa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Liver cirrhosis is a relevant illness regarding worldwide morbidity and mortality and most patients have esophageal varices. Many studies have shown that osteoporosis is the only cirrhosis complication that keeps worsening after liver transplantation. Thus, the only way to avoid fractures due to bone loss is to combine early diagnosis and proper treatment, which is composed by calcium and vitamin D supplementation combined to an anti-reabsortive agent, such as biphosphonates. However, the use of oral biphosphonates is related with upper gastrointestinal tract damage, being necessary to evaluate the safety of this medication in patients with esophageal varices. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk of upper gastrointestinal tract damage related with the use of oral Risedronate weekly in such patients. Endoscopic findings will be evaluated and, if present, risk factors will be identified. (AU)