title: Effects of calcitonin therapy on osteoporosis in patients with thalassemia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of calcitonin (CT) treatment on bone pain, osteoporosis, bone fractures and blood chemistry in thalassemic patients. Twenty-four patients with an age range of 10-24 years were included, 14 of whom received 100 IU CT and 250 mg calcium 3 times a week. The others (n = 10) were followed up as a control group with only routine thalassemia therapy. After 1 year of treatment, bone pain disappeared and radiological signs of osteoporosis had improved significantly (p < 0.01) in the treatment group. CT has no important side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Canatan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcasoy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D002116:Calcitonin