title: Treatment of refractory cancer-associated hypercalcemia with aminohydroxypropylidene diphosphonate.
abstract: The case history is presented of a 45-year-old woman who was receiving chemotherapy for a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and who developed severe symptomatic hypercalcemia. Despite intensive treatment with fluids, loop diuretics, prednisone, calcitonin and repeated doses of mithramycin, she remained hypercalcemic. She was then treated with aminohydroxypropylidene diphosphonate (APD) with consequent rapid normalization of the serum calcium and disappearance of symptoms. We conclude that APD is a valuable supplement to the treatment of malignant hypercalcemia in that it may be effective when traditional therapies have failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology C, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Heaf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077268:Pamidronate; D013654:Taurine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D013654:Taurine; C052991:1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2-(dimethylaminosulfonyl)ethyl)-1-nitrosourea; D000077268:Pamidronate