We report the effects of alendronate on phosphate homeostasis in two p
atients. In a woman with postmenopausal osteoporosis, the infusion of
alendronate (7.5 mg intravenously daily for 4 consecutive days) was no
t associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism despite a reduction in
serum calcium. This was associated with a rise in serum phosphate and
TmP/GFR. This response contrasted with those observed in 14 other pat
ients with osteoporosis, in whom PTH rose significantly following the
infusion of alendronate in association with a significant fall in seru
m phosphate and TmP/GFR. The second patient, a woman with Paget's dise
ase, was treated with intravenous alendronate (10 mg daily for 5 conse
cutive days) on two occasions for relapse of disease activity. On the
first occasion there was a 150% rise in serum PTH associated with a fa
ll in serum phosphate and TmP/GFR. On the second occasion, when the ri
se in serum PTH was less marked, there was a rise in serum phosphate a
nd TmP/GFR. We conclude that alendronate may increase renal tubular re
absorption of phosphate, but that this effect is usually offset by sec
ondary hyperparathyroidism.