New York, Aug 8 (IANS): Researchers have found that -- bisphosphonates -- a class of drugs that prevent the loss of bone density and used to treat osteoporosis and similar diseases, appear to be safe and beneficial for osteoarthritis patients.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 300 million sufferings with the condition, yet there are no effective treatments to stop the disease or its progression.

According to the study, published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, one of the lesions in OA that causes pain and progression of the structural pathology of the disease is bone marrow lesions.

"The results suggest that bisphosphonates do not appear to be harmful, at least over one year, and perhaps may even help decrease bone marrow lesions in those that have them," said study researcher Tuhina Neogi from the Boston University in the US.

Researchers believe bisphosphonates may alter bone marrow lesions, and thereby could improve pain in OA and halt its progression. Alternatively, they could also alter the mechanical properties of bone, thereby potentially contributing to detrimental effects.

Using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a longitudinal cohort of people with or at risk for knee OA, the researchers identified women who started bisphosphonates and matched them to women who weren't on the drug. Measurements in bone marrow lesion volume were taken when they first started on bisphosphonate and then a year later.

Changes in bone marrow lesion volume between the two groups were then compared."When we looked at those who had bone marrow lesions at baseline, we found that the women who started bisphosphonates had had more bone marrow lesions that decreased in size than the women who did not start bisphosphonates," Neogi explained.

According to the researchers, effective treatments for osteoarthritis are desperately needed.

"By examining existing data for potential signals of efficacy and safety, we can identify potentially promising therapies that should be further tested in trials with the aim to ameliorate the pain of osteoarthritis and improve the quality of life for the millions of people worldwide that have this disease," Neogi noted.