NCT00277251

Who might be able to join this trial:

• You have been diagnosed with one of these conditions: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, lupus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), or vasculitis.
• A bone density scan (DXA) done within the last 8 weeks shows that your lower spine bone density is significantly lower than average for your age (a Z score of -1.5 or below).
• You have taken steroid medications (such as prednisone) daily, every other day, or weekly for at least 6 months total during your lifetime.
• You are between 8 years old and 21 years and 11 months old at the time of joining the trial.
• If you are female and have started your periods, you must either not be sexually active or be using an effective form of birth control.

Who may not be able to join:

• You have taken certain bone-affecting medications (bisphosphonates, calcitonin, human growth hormone, or heparin) in the last 6 months.
• You have had a serious stomach or esophagus problem in the last year (such as a peptic ulcer, esophageal disease, or stomach bleeding), or have had surgery on the upper part of your digestive tract (other than a specific minor procedure), or have a condition that slows food moving through your esophagus.
• You have been found within the last 8 weeks to have an overactive thyroid, overactive parathyroid glands, cancer, rickets, or a bone-softening condition called osteomalacia.
• Your vitamin D level is too low (below 20 mg/L).
• You are currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Your kidneys are not working well enough (confirmed by a blood test within the last 4 weeks), or you are on dialysis.
• Your liver is not working well enough, based on blood test results taken within the last 4 weeks.
• You have low calcium levels in your blood that have not been treated, confirmed within the last 4 weeks.
• You have a known or suspected allergy to bisphosphonate medications.
• You are unable to follow the specific dosing instructions — for example, swallowing the study medication with plain water first thing in the morning and then staying upright without eating or drinking anything else for at least 30 minutes.
• You weigh more than 136 kg (300 lb), as the bone density scan equipment cannot give reliable results at this weight.
• You weigh less than 17 kg (37 lb), confirmed within the last 8 weeks.
• You have a permanent metal implant, surgical clips, permanent piercings, or calcium deposits in the area of the body being scanned, which could affect scan results (confirm with trial site).
• You are unable to have a DXA bone density scan or a CT scan.
• You have a developmental or cognitive condition that may make it difficult to cooperate with or follow the study procedures.
• You are likely to move away from the study area during the trial, making regular follow-up visits impractical.

Important: Always verify eligibility with the trial site directly before applying.