title: Comparison of three intravenous bisphosphonates in cancer-associated hypercalcaemia.
abstract: Three intravenous bisphosphonates were compared in the treatment of cancer-associated hypercalcaemia. 48 patients were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups (each with 16 subjects)--30 mg pamidronate or 600 mg clodronate, both as single intravenous infusions; or etidronate as three infusions of 7.5 mg/kg per day for three consecutive days. Patients were rehydrated with normal saline before bisphosphonate treatment. All three bisphosphonates lowered serum calcium by inhibiting bone resorption; pamidronate was the most potent in this respect. By comparison with the other groups, more patients in the pamidronate group became normocalcaemic, and the effect on serum calcium was apparent sooner and lasted longer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gallacher
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Dryburgh
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D004002:Clodronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D000077268:Pamidronate; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D004002:Clodronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D000077268:Pamidronate; D002118:Calcium