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Osteoporosis is a common complication in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of denosumab and zoledronic acid (ZOL) in treating osteoporosis in PBC patients./r/nThis multicenter, randomized, open-label trial enrolled Japanese patients with PBC and osteoporosis. Patients were randomized to receive either subcutaneous denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (denosumab group) or i.v. zoledronic acid 5 mg yearly (ZOL group). The primary endpoint was the mean percent change in bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and total hip from baseline to 12 months./r/nOf 47 enrolled patients, 41 (87.2%) completed the study (denosumab: n=21; ZOL: n=20). At 12 months, lumbar spine BMD increased by 7.5% in the denosumab group and 6.4% in the ZOL group, demonstrating the non-inferiority of denosumab (95% CI: -1.6% to 3.8%). Although the total hip BMD increased more in the denosumab group than in the ZOL group (5.0% vs. 2.6%, p<0.01), the difference did not meet the predefined non-inferiority margin (95% CI: -1.3% to 6.2%). Serum ALP to upper limit of normal ratio and bone turnover markers significantly decreased in both groups; however, the rates of change were not significantly different between them. The incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the denosumab group compared with the ZOL group (14.3% vs. 50.0%, p=0.013)./r/nDenosumab is a safe and effective treatment option for osteoporosis in patients with PBC.
