[Clodronate in treatment of tumor osteopathy. Evaluation in tumor patients with bone metastases or hypercalcemia].
METHODS
In an observational study involving 398 tumor patients with bone metastases or related hypercalcemia, the effect of treatment with clodronate over a period of 12 months was investigated. Bone pain, analgesic requirements, quality of life and laboratory parameters were recorded at monthly intervals.


RESULTS
Some 71.4% of all patients indicated an improvement in quality of life. Bone pain, experienced by 91.4% of the patients at the start of treatment, regressed (from 2.0 +/- 1.2 to 1.3 +/- 1.0). After the 12-month treatment period, 36% of the patients did without analgesics completely (prior to treatment the corresponding figure was 24%). The most common side effects attributed to clodronate were gastrointestinal disorders (10%).


CONCLUSIONS
Clodronate would appear to be a useful supportive drug in the management of tumor-related bone disease.
Voigtmann
R
R
Abteilung für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Marienhospital Herne Ruhruniversität Bochum.
Kirstein
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D004002:Clodronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
D004002:Clodronic Acid