[Experiences with calcitonin treatment of patients with type I complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS I--Sudeck disease)].
PURPOSE/METHODS/PATIENTS: Calcitonin is a common treatment in patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS I), although its effects are being controversially discussed. In a prospective study of 24 patients with CRPS I of the upper limb, we examined the tolerance of daily doses of 0.5 mg human calcitonin administered subcutaneously over 8 weeks. To assess the benefit of this therapy, the patients were clinically examined every second week. The results were compared to a consecutive group of 25 CRPS 1 patients who received only analgetics and physiotherapy.


RESULTS
With regard to all examined parameters (spontaneous pain, grip strength, edema, hand function, systematic temperature difference), the patients treated with calcitonin showed an improvement during the observation time. However, a statistically significant difference to the control group was calculated only for the reduction of the edema (P < 0.01). 83% (20/24 patients) of the calcitonin-treated patients suffered from severe, mostly gastroenterological side-effects. Hence therapy had to be discontinued in 3 cases (13%).


CONCLUSIONS
The therapy with calcitonin has the burden of numerous unpleasant side-effects and causes only a slight therapeutic improvement. Thus, calcitonin must only be prescribed with reservations for patients suffering from CRPS I.
Schürmann
M
M
Unfallchirurgie, Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München im Klinikum Grosshadern. mschuerm@gch.med.uni-muenchen.de
Vogel
T
T
Gärtner
A
A
Andress
H J
HJ
Gradl
G
G
D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002116:Calcitonin
Erfahrungen mit der Kalzitonin-Behandlung bei Patienten mit Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS I--M. Sudeck).