title: Vitamin D and calcitonin treatment in patients with femoral neck fracture: a prospective controlled clinical study.
abstract: The effects on general and bone metabolism of femoral neck fracture patients of 0.25 micrograms alpha-calcoid given orally twice daily (n = 9) and 25 micrograms calcitonin given subcutaneously 30 times (n = 10) in 10 weeks were studied against a control (n = 11). Bone histology and histomorphometry showed non-age related osteoporosis in 30% and osteomalacia in 22% of the patients studied. Impaired serum vitamin D status was found in 47-88% of patients, secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased serum parathyroid hormone in 59% and decreased serum calcitonin levels in 69%. On histology, normal findings and non-age related osteoporosis on histology were associated with low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25- and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Very high serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 occurred in fracture patients with osteomalacia. Calcitonin improved calcium balance, reduced osteoporosis and increased the serum 1,25- and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels but had no effect on osteomalacia. Vitamin D reduced osteomalacia, slightly increased the serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentration and decreased serum levels of parathyroid hormone. Both treatments gave a similar slight decrease in serum calcitonin concentrations. A mechanism of action for the treatments is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Clinical Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Punnonen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tuimala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paronen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002116:Calcitonin; D002112:Calcifediol