Could Denosumab Support Bone Integrity in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell anaemia is a congenital disease characterized by painful vaso-occlusive crises. It is associated with vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis and recurrent attacks of micro-infarctions lead to bone osteonecrosis. The most common sites of osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease are the femoral and humeral heads which could lead to severe pain and extensive physical disability. Denosumab is a new human monoclonal antibody product; it is a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand RANKL. That decreases osteoclastic bone restoration. It is Food and Drug Administration FDA approved for osteoporosis for women with high risk of fracture; and it is also being used for the treatment and prevention of bone loss in patients undergoing hormone ablation therapy for breast and prostate cancer. Denosumab is not restricted for sickle cell disease patients within its approved indications. It has less nephrotoxicity effect than the bisphosphonates which is a big advantage for sickle cell patients. It also used as an adjuvant agent to reduce metastatic bone pain in solid tumors. The extension of Denosumab use for sickle cell patients' osteoporosis and osteonecrosis deserve a randomized multi central trail aiming to improve bone integrity and possible reduction of the devastating pain in sickle cell disease patients.