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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

We spoke to the bone density doc!!

I had a lovely 45 minute chat with Dr. Pat today. Don't ask me what her last name is. I can't pronounce it. Neither can anyone else, hence the "Dr. Pat" But Dr. Feldman recommended her, so we're good to go.
She says that Dovi is on the borderline between osteoporosis and osteopenia-a score of -2 or greater is osteoporosis and -2 or less is osteopenia. And Dovi is -2. Hence the borderline. There are 3 treatments for the osteos:
1) Vitamin D and Calcium. Nope, not enough for Mr. Breaky Bones
Then 2 different types of bisphosphonate therapies. Let's back up here to recount Dr. Pat's very simplified explanation of what's going on here. There are two types of cells in bones: those that break down the bone and those that build it up. They break down in order to release calcium into the body. The body essentially uses bone as a bank for calcium, storing it (build up) when not needed and withdrawing it (break down) when needed. Bisphosphonate therapies work by stopping the cells that break down the bone at a cellular level, thus increasing bone density. Make sense?
Two types of bisphosphonate therapies:
1) Oral-ie Fosamax, etc.
pro: easy to administer, noninvasive.
con: easy to forget to take (once a week), not as experienced with children-mostly given to adults
2) IV-Pamidronate.
pro: used originally for kids with brittle bone disease for many years-known to be effective.
con: IV in the hospital every 3-4 months for 1-3 days.

Both of them cause bone density to steadily increase. An added bonus is that they increase vertical height! Excellent.

So we're between the Fosamax and the Pamidronate. Dr. Pat is going to talk with Dr. Axelrod and they will decide which to use for him. We're leaning towards the Pamidronate-while it'll be a royal PITB to go to NY every 3 months, we'll get to go to NY every 3 months! So we'll see.
When they make a decision they'll call us back to get organized.
Yay for a plan!! (or the beginning thereof)

1 comment:

Stephanie said...

Why would you have to go to NY for the IV - can't they call into a children's hospital in Chicago?