Successful treatment of immobilization hypercalcemia using calcitonin and etidronate. 1993

J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Hypercalcemia of immobilization may present in patients with spinal cord injury, multiple fractures, or Landry-Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It is attributed to an increase in bone resorption and diminished bone formation characterized clinically by elevated serum calcium levels, hypercalciuria, increased risk of urinary lithiasis, and renal failure. Traditional treatment methods can interfere with the intensive level of therapy provided in the comprehensive rehabilitation program. Other treatments, less disruptive of the rehabilitation milieu, are possible. Reported are six patients with hypercalcemia of immobilization who were successfully treated with combination therapy of salmon calcitonin and sodium etidronate. The patients developed hypercalcemia an average of 69 days after the onset of illness. Serum calcium levels dropped an average of 2.8mg/dL (12.3mg/dL, SD 1.33 to 9.5mg/dL, SD 0.42) within eight days after initiation of treatment. In two patients, 24 hour urine excretions of calcium decreased by 414 and 210mg/day, respectively. All patients had a reduction in serum calcium levels noted within two days of treatment, and a normal serum calcium levels within one week. Patients were usually changed to a single medication maintenance regimen, sodium etidronate, within a few days. Full therapies in the treatment gyms were given to all patients within a day of initiation of the combined treatment. These two drugs appear to have a rapid and combined effect on the treatment of hypercalcemia of immobilization, and allow full participation in a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007103 Immobilization The restriction of the MOVEMENT of whole or part of the body by physical means (RESTRAINT, PHYSICAL) or chemically by ANALGESIA, or the use of TRANQUILIZING AGENTS or NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS. It includes experimental protocols used to evaluate the physiologic effects of immobility. Hypokinesia, Experimental,Experimental Hypokinesia,Experimental Hypokinesias,Hypokinesias, Experimental
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009104 Multiple Trauma Multiple physical insults or injuries occurring simultaneously. Injuries, Multiple,Trauma, Multiple,Wounds, Multiple,Multiple Injuries,Polytrauma,Injury, Multiple,Multiple Injury,Multiple Traumas,Multiple Wound,Multiple Wounds,Polytraumas,Traumas, Multiple,Wound, Multiple
D001862 Bone Resorption Bone loss due to osteoclastic activity. Bone Loss, Osteoclastic,Osteoclastic Bone Loss,Bone Losses, Osteoclastic,Bone Resorptions,Loss, Osteoclastic Bone,Losses, Osteoclastic Bone,Osteoclastic Bone Losses,Resorption, Bone,Resorptions, Bone
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
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination 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

Related Publications

J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
February 1992, Calcified tissue international,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
September 1985, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
June 1984, Archives of internal medicine,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
August 1980, JAMA,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
May 1995, The Journal of pediatrics,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
February 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
October 1977, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
June 2018, Saudi medical journal,
J M Meythaler, and S M Tuel, and L L Cross
June 1991, American family physician,
Copied contents to your clipboard!