Prevention of osteoporosis with nasal salmon calcitonin: effect of anti-salmon calcitonin antibody formation.
The amino acid sequence of salmon calcitonin (SCT) differs considerably from that of the human hormone and specific antibodies (Ab) develop in a significant proportion of patients after parenteral or nasal administration of SCT. Controversy remains regarding the functional importance of these Ab. We report on the development of specific anti-SCT Ab in a population of postmenopausal women receiving nasal SCT for prevention of postmenopausal bone loss, and compare the effects of nasal SCT in women with or without Ab. Thirty-nine per cent of women developed Ab after 6 months of treatment with SCT, 52% after 12 months, and 61% after 18 and 24 months. After 24 months the AB titre was 3.47-17.7 x 10(-9) M/l (mean +/- SD: 13.3 +/- 3.1 x 10(-9) M/l). No significant differences appeared between the changes in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) measured in the whole population (n = 44) (mean +/- SD: +1.06 +/- 3.9%), the patients without Ab (n = 17) (+0.05 +/- 3.7%) or in those with Ab (n = 27) (+1.7 +/- 4.6%). During the same period, a control population randomly assigned to a 500 mg/day calcium intake showed a significant loss of lumbar BMD (-4.57 +/- 4.9%) (p < 0.01). In conclusion, in healthy postmenopausal women nasal SCT seems to maintain the same preventive effect against bone loss whether or not Ab are present.
Centre Universitaire d'Investigation du Metabolisme Osseux et du Cartilage Articulaire, University of Liège, Belgium.
J Y
JY
Reginster
S
S
Gaspar
R
R
Deroisy
B
B
Zegels
P
P
Franchimont
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin