Alendronate and Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

To the Editor: In this issue of the Journal, Black et al.1 report on a significant increase in the risk of serious atrial-fibrillation adverse events (defined as events resulting in hospitalization or disability or judged to be life-threatening) associated with once-yearly infusions of intravenous zoledronic acid for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. However, there was no increased risk of all adverse events of atrial fibrillation with such infusions. We reviewed the results of the Fracture Intervention Trial (FIT), a randomized study of alendronate sponsored by Merck, which involved 6459 postmenopausal women (mean age, 69 years).2,3 The . . .