Calcitonin in the treatment of transient osteoporosis of the hip.
BACKGROUND
Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH) is a rare clinical disorder of unknown etiology characterized by hip pain and functional disability that resolve spontaneously in 6-24 months.


OBJECTIVE
To report 2 patients with TOH during pregnancy who had rapid resolution of their illness with the use of calcitonin. To review the literature on TOH with special emphasis on its treatment.


METHODS
A MEDLINE search of studies published from 1966 to 2002 was performed to review treatment options for TOH and their effect on the natural history of the disease.


RESULTS
Our 2 patients developed hip pain during pregnancy with classical changes of TOH on MRI. Both patients received calcitonin, 1 during pregnancy and 1 postpartum with resolution of their symptoms within 6 to 9 weeks. Previous reports in the literature of treatment of TOH showed that antiresorptive agents (bisphosphonates and calcitonin) had shortened the duration of the illness compared with the natural history of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
TOH is an under-recognized entity associated with pain and disability. The use of antiresorptive agents may be of help in reducing the duration of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase the recognition of TOH and to consider therapeutic interventions to shorten the duration of the disease.
Arayssi
Thurayya K
TK
Departments of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tawbi
Hussein A
HA
Usta
Ihab M
IM
Hourani
Mukbil H
MH
D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002116:Calcitonin