Developments have been made in the last 5-10 years that have dramatically changed the quality of life for many children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Doctors at Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal developed a therapy treatment using a drug called Pamidronate.

 

Findings from studies on children with Types III-IV OI show increase in bone volume, increase in bone density, decreased perception of pain, increased vertebral size, and fracture rates tend to decline. Children treated with Pamidronate for four years show at least as much growth as those without pamidronate, and in most cases the growth is improved.

 

 

 

Pamidronate treatments are given by IV infusion. This infusion typically runs 4 hours a day for 3 days. This treatment is given every 8 weeks for the first 2 years and then the time interval increases as the child gets older. Sometimes a child may be admitted to the hospital for the full three days, or they may go home at the end of each day with the IV capped and protected, some children even have the treatments administered at home through a Home Health Care agency.

 

 

 

Pamidronate treatments can begin at any age. For those with moderate to severe OI it has been shown that greater results are seen the earlier the treatment begins.