title: Treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with pamidronate.
abstract: A 14-year-old boy with longstanding multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) had multifocal bone pain unresponsive to chemotherapy, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories, and narcotic analgesics. He responded to two cycles of intravenous pamidronate, each 90 mg per day on three consecutive days. Two subsequent episodes of deterioration also responded to treatment. The pathophysiology of his bone pain and the likely mechanisms of biphosphonate action are discussed, with emphasis on the molecular and cellular basis of LCH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Southern Alberta Children's Cancer Program, Alberta Children's Hospital/Tom Baker Cancer Center, University of Calgary, Canada. peter.farran@CRHA-health.ab.ca
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Farran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaretski
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Egeler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077268:Pamidronate
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate