Clinical Efficacy of Salmon Calcitonin against Bone Pain in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Women

폐경후 골다공증 환자의 골동통 치료에 있어서 Salmon Calcitonin 투여의 임상적 효용성

Calcitonin exerts a positive effects on bone pain. The relief of bone pain has been well known in Paget's disease and malignancy patients with bone metastasis who were treated with salmon calcitonin. We carried out a clinical study evaluating efficacy of salmon calcitonin in reducing bone pain and improving mobility of the postmenopausal osteoporosis women. Fifty women suffering pain from postmenopausal osteoporosis diagnosed by evidence of radiology and/or dual photon absorptiometry were treated with salmon calcitonin 50 MRC three times per week for 4 weeks. The severity of pain estimated by visual analogue scale(VAS) was reduced significantly in treated patients from $8.6{\pm}0.7$ on day 0 to $2.7{\pm}1.7$ on day 28. The mobility of the patients was improved in 2 weeks after salmon calcitonin treatment. Mild adverse effects were seen in 8(16%) patients; headache in 4(8%), sweating and dizziness in 2(4%), pain at the injection site in 1(2%), nausea and vomiting in 1(2%) patient. The treatment was stopped in 3 patients by their request. Salmon calcitonin was effective in 39(83%) of 47 patients above moderate degree. In conclusion, salmon calcitonin is useful in the treatment of patients with pain from postmenopausal osteoporosis.