2024/04/03 by Elisa A. Ferrante, Cornelia Cudrici, Mahmood Rashidi +12 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Connective tissue disorders research #Dermatological and Skeletal Disorders #Parathyroid Disorders and Treatments
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/1358863x241235669
openalex publication_date 2024/04/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
BACKGROUND: Arterial calcification due to deficiency of CD73 (ACDC; OMIM 211800) is a rare genetic disease resulting in calcium deposits in arteries and small joints causing claudication, resting pain, severe joint pain, and deformities. Currently, there are no standard treatments for ACDC. Our previous work identified etidronate as a potential targeted ACDC treatment, using in vitro and in vivo disease models with patient-derived cells. In this study, we test the safety and effectiveness of etidronate in attenuating the progression of lower-extremity arterial calcification and vascular blood flow based on the computed tomography (CT) calcium score and ankle-brachial index (ABI). METHODS: Seven adult patients with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of ACDC were enrolled in an open-label, nonrandomized, single-arm pilot study for etidronate treatment. They took etidronate daily for 14 days every 3 months and were examined at the NIH Clinical Center bi-annually for 3 years. They received a baseline evaluation as well as yearly follow up after treatment. Study visits included imaging studies, exercise tolerance tests with ABIs, clinical blood and urine testing, and full dental exams. RESULTS: Etidronate treatment appeared to have slowed the progression of further vascular calcification in lower extremities as measured by CT but did not have an effect in reversing vascular and/or periarticular joint calcifications in our small ACDC cohort. CONCLUSIONS: .