Testing a bone medication for hip and shoulder damage in sickle cell disease

This trial is testing whether alendronate, a medication commonly used to strengthen bones, can safely help treat a serious complication of sickle cell disease called osteonecrosis—when bone tissue dies in the hip or shoulder. Researchers want to see if the medication is well-tolerated, how it affects pain and quality of life, and how it changes markers of bone health over six months.

Bone death (osteonecrosis) is a painful and disabling complication that affects many adults with sickle cell disease, but there are limited treatment options. This medication has shown promise in other bone conditions, so researchers want to find out whether this treatment could help reduce pain and improve outcomes for people living with this complication.