title: Rapid improvement of calcinosis in juvenile dermatomyositis with alendronate therapy.
abstract: A 6-year-old boy with improving juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) developed severe and debilitating calcinosis, unresponsive to diltiazem and probenecid. Alendronate produced dramatic improvement within 1 month and by 12 months calcinosis had virtually resolved. The response was followed by bone mineral content measurements.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia. geoffa@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Geoffrey R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaitow
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ouvrier
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone; D019386:Alendronate; D008727:Methotrexate