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Bisphosphonates linked to increased atrial fibrillation risk

October 28, 2014
  • Advising on this article:
  • Frank Pucino

KEY POINT

A new analysis of pooled data from nine studies, which included more than 135,000 patients, found that use of intravenous (IV) or oral bisphosphonates was associated with an increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), with the risk being higher in patients receiving IV therapy.

SOURCES

Sharma A et al. Risk of atrial fibrillation with use of oral and intravenous bisphosphonates. Am J Cardiol. 2014;113:1815–1821.

Food and Drug Administration. Update of safety review follow-up to the October 1, 2007 early communication about the ongoing safety review of bisphosphonates.  Accessed October 3, 2014.  

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