Biomaterial Database

Symptomatic hypocalcemia following combined calcitonin and mithramycin therapy for hypercalcemia due to malignancy. 1978

J F Caro, and A Besarab, and J A Glennon

Three patients with malignant disease received the usual recommended doses of mithramycin and calcitonin, either concurrently or concomitantly, because of severe life-threatening hypercalcemia. All three patients developed severe, symptomatic hypocalcemia. The mechanisms for this phenomenon are discussed. A possible synergism between calcitonin and mithramycin may prove to be hazardous in such patients and this possibility must be kept in mind when these agents are being considered as a combination treatment for hypercalcemia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006996	Hypocalcemia	Reduction of the blood calcium below normal. Manifestations include hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, Chvostek's sign, muscle and abdominal cramps, and carpopedal spasm. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Hypocalcemias
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D008926	Plicamycin	A tricyclic pentaglycosidic antibiotic from Streptomyces strains that inhibits RNA and protein synthesis by adhering to DNA. It is used as a fluorescent dye and as an antineoplastic agent, especially in bone and testicular tumors. Plicamycin is also used to reduce hypercalcemia, especially that due to malignancies.	Aureolic Acid,Mithramycin,Mitramycin
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D002116	Calcitonin	A peptide hormone that lowers calcium concentration in the blood. In humans, it is released by thyroid cells and acts to decrease the formation and absorptive activity of osteoclasts. Its role in regulating plasma calcium is much greater in children and in certain diseases than in normal adults.	Thyrocalcitonin,Calcitonin(1-32),Calcitrin,Ciba 47175-BA,Eel Calcitonin,Calcitonin, Eel,Ciba 47175 BA,Ciba 47175BA
D004357	Drug Synergism	The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug.	Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006934	Hypercalcemia	Abnormally high level of calcium in the blood.	Milk-Alkali Syndrome,Hypercalcemias,Milk Alkali Syndrome,Syndrome, Milk-Alkali