Esophagus-enteric anastomosis ulceration caused by alendronate

Abstract

Background - Alendronate sodium is an aminobisphosphonate indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and has been associated with esophagitis in many reports. Esophageal stenosis, gastrointestinal symptoms as dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain could be present. Objective - Report a case of a patient who underwent total gastrectomy with Y-en-Roux anastomosis for a gastric carcinoid tumor and developed an esophagus-enteric anastomosis ulceration after the use of alendronate. Patient and Method - A 63-year-old woman started medical therapy with alendronate in a dose of 10 mg daily. After a period of one month of medical treatment with this drug she began to complain of dysphagic symptoms and abdominal pain. She was submitted to endoscopic examination that showed an esophageal ulceration, an enteric ulceration of the anastomosis and an esophageal stenosis. Results - Medical treatment with alendronate was discontinued and the symptom of abdominal pain desapeared. The intensity of dysphagia has decreased. The ulcerated lesion remitted although esophageal stenosis did not. The patient was subsequently treated with esophagus-enteric anastomosis dilation. She improved in her general state and nowadays she is free of symptoms. Conclusion - Alendronate sodium could cause lesions of the inferior esophageal portion or in distal segments of the gastrointestinal tube, in patients with a fast gastrointestinal transit. Special attention must be given to gastrectomized patients that use this drug because of the possibility to develop mucosal lesions in the enteric anastomosed part and its fearfull complications as stenosis.