calcitonin and Lung-Diseases--Obstructive

In the present controlled study the effect of calcitonin nasal spray (CAS 47931-85-1; Lachs-Calcitonin Nasal spray Sandoz) on the bone mineral content was investigated in 36 patients in need of corticosteroid therapy suffering from chronic, obstructive lung diseases. The treatment consisted of 200 IU intranasal daily and lasted for one year. In the control group there was a statistically significant decline of bone mineral content of 5% or 4.3% concerning the lumbar vertebrae L1-L4 and the femur, whereas in the treated group there was only a statistically not significant decrease of 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively. These findings show that calcitonin nasal spray in a dose of 200 IU daily is quite useful for the prophylaxis of steroid-induced osteoporosis.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Bone and Bones; Bone Diseases; Calcitonin; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Minerals; Plethysmography, Whole Body; Respiratory Function Tests; Steroids

There is uncertainty about the best treatment for steroid-induced osteoporosis. Thirty-six patients with steroid-dependent, chronic obstructive lung disease and associated steroid osteoporosis have been studied, of whom 18 were treated with salmon calcitonin and the other 18 served as controls. Treatment lasted for 6 months and consisted of 100 I.U.s.c. every other day. In the controls there were significant decrements of 1.4% and 3.5%, respectively, in cortical and cortical and trabecular bone mineral content, whereas in subjects on calcitonin there were increments of 2.6% and 2.7%, respectively. Additional evidence of positive effect of calcitonin was derived from the reduced incidence of new fractures occurring during the observation period. A significant reduction in back pain was a further consequence of the hormone therapy.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Aged; Bone and Bones; Calcitonin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Minerals; Osteoporosis; Random Allocation