Salmon calcitonin reduces vertebral fracture rate in postmenopausal crush fracture syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-6009(92)90883-FGet rights and content

Abstract

The effectiveness of calcitonin on the vertebral fracture rate in postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed through the skeletal deformity index (SDI) and the new vertebral fracture rate per 100 patient-years in a group of 32 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated by us with 100 IU of salmon calcitonin and 500 mg of elemental calcium for 10 consecutive days each month, and in another group of 28 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with 500 mg of elemental calcium only for 10 consecutive days each month. Both groups were age-matched. The follow-up was a retrospective randomized study over 24 months. Thirty of the 32 women of the calcitonin group and 27 of 28 women of the calcium group finished treatment. The SDI was stabilized after six months in the calcitonin group (0.57 ± 0.13, 0.62 ± 0.18, 0.63 ± 0.16 and 0.64 ± 0.17, at base line, 6, 12 and 24 months respectively). The calcium group showed a significant increase only at 12 months (P < 0.01) and 24 months (P < 0.05) (0.61 ± 0.16, 0.63 ± 0.16, 0.69 ± 0.16, and 0.73 ± 0.15, at base line, 6, 12 and 24 months respectively). At 24 months, the new vertebral fracture rate decreased by 60% (20%, 14% and 8% at 6, 12 and 24 months respectively) in the calcitonin group and increased by 35% (31%, 33% and 42%, at 6, 12 and 24 months respectively) in the calcium group (P < 0.025). These results show that calcitonin induced a significant reduction in postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

References (35)

  • LE Mallete et al.

    Cyclic therapy of osteoporosis with neutral phosphate and brief, high-dose pulses of etidronate

    J Bone Miner Res

    (1989)
  • GF Mazzuoli et al.

    Effects of salmon calcitonin in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a controlled doubleblind study

    Calcif Tissue Int

    (1986)
  • LG Raisz et al.

    Pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

    Ann Rev Med

    (1989)
  • BL Riggs et al.

    Effect of fluoride treatment on the fracture rate in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

    N Engl J Med

    (1990)
  • T Storm et al.

    Effect of intermittent cyclical etidronate therapy on bone mass and fracture rate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

    N Engl J Med

    (1990)
  • H Rico et al.

    Resultados, a largo plazo, del tratamiento de la osteoporosis postmenopausica con calcitonina y calcio

    Med Clin (Barc)

    (1985)
  • H Rico et al.

    Scintigraphy evaluation of reflex sympathetic dystrophy: comparative study of the course of the disease under two therapeutic regimens

    Clin Rheumatol

    (1987)
  • Cited by (108)

    • Calcitonin in osteoporosis

      2020, Marcus and Feldman’s Osteoporosis
    • Menopause and Aging

      2019, Yen &amp; Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management: Eighth Edition
    • Menopause

      2015, Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric
    • Menopause and Aging

      2013, Yen and Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology: Seventh Edition
    • Calcitonin in Osteoporosis

      2013, Osteoporosis: Fourth Edition
    • Menopause

      2010, Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric, Sixth Edition
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text