calcitonin and Asthma

This study reports the effect of salmon calcitonin on airway function and peripheral blood parameters in asthmatic subjects. The premise for the study is that calcitonin is given to asthmatics that require systemic corticosteroids as a way to counter problems with calcium balance and osteoporosis, and that it has an immunosuppressive effect. Salmon calcitonin (100 IU) was administered to 18 patients with atopic bronchial asthma, and the following spirometric parameters were evaluated: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak respiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory flow rates at 25%, 50% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25%, FEF50% and FEF75%). Calcitonin significantly decreased the levels of FVC and FEV1 by 20 min after starting the infusion. The effect of 500 mg aminophylline, used as a reference drug in this study, was much more profound, with a significant increase in all investigated parameters. Also, the effect of salmon calcitonin on some immune parameters (white blood cell count, number of eosinophils, serum levels of immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, and serum levels of lymphocytes subpopulations CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19) was determined in another group of 30 patients suffering from atopic bronchial asthma. Calcitonin at a dose of 100 IU/day subcutaneously for 3 days did not alter the immune parameters studied, thus rendering it safe for such and similar treatment schedules in a variety of medical conditions.

Topics: Adult; Aminophylline; Asthma; Bronchodilator Agents; Bronchospirometry; Calcitonin; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Injections, Intravenous; Male

Sixty-two steroid-dependent asthmatics who had not received any form of treatment to prevent bone loss were studied during a 12-month period. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-one patients were treated with 1 g of elemental calcium taken daily plus 100 IU of salmon calcitonin every other day, administered subcutaneously; the remaining 31 patients received only calcium supplementation. In the calcitonin group, 11 patients dropped out of the study because of severe side effects (seven patients), lack of compliance (three patients), and exacerbation of asthma (one patient). The 20 patients who completed the 12-month follow-up period were analyzed and compared with 20 sex-matched patients from the control group. At one year, bone mineral density (BMD) had increased in the calcitonin group by a mean of 4% (p less than or equal to 0.001), whereas in the control group BMD had decreased by 2.5% (p less than or equal to 0.05). Parameters of bone remodeling (alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin) decreased significantly in the calcitonin-treated group but not in the control group. Our findings show that calcitonin 100 IU, given three times/wk, is an effective drug in the treatment of steroid-induced osteopenia. Side effects, however, are frequent and cause a high degree of dropout from therapy. These findings suggest that further studies should be carried out with lower doses of calcitonin or by other better tolerated forms of delivery such as in a nasal spray.

Topics: Asthma; Bone Density; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Bone Resorption; Calcitonin; Calcium; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prednisone; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors