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    Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Apr;92(4):704-6.

    A new probable increasing cause of esophageal ulceration: alendronate.

    Colina RE, Smith M, Kikendall JW, Wong RK.

    Department of Gastroenterology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.

    We present a case of esophageal ulcerations caused by alendronate (Fosamax), a recently marketed medication. The patient presented with a chief complaint of retrosternal pain and severe odynophagia of 5 days duration. She was taking prednisone 10 mg and azathioprine 100 mg p.o. q.d. for systemic lupus erythematosus. To prevent osteoporosis, she was started on alendronate 10 mg q.d. 2 wk before her symptoms started. Endoscopy of the upper GI tract revealed two deep, large ulcers at the gastroesophageal junction. Multiple biopsy specimens revealed necroinflammatory debris and acute esophagitis. However, no organisms were identified, and the result of her HIV test (ELISA) was negative. Alendronate was discontinued, and her symptoms resolved completely in 1 wk. Follow-up endoscopy performed 4 wk later revealed complete healing of the ulcers.

    PMID: 9128331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    Patient drug information

    • Prednisone (Prednisone Intensol®, Sterapred®, Sterapred® DS)

      Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). Prednis...

    • Azathioprine (Azasan®, Imuran®)

      Azathioprine is used with other medications to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. It is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain and swellin...

    • Alendronate (Fosamax®, Fosamax Plus D®)

      Alendronate is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause ('change of life,' end of menstrual periods) and to treat...