[Long-term therapy with calcitonin in Paget's diseases (author's transl)]

16 patients with a Paget's disease at the age of 51--80 years were treated by synthetic salmon calcitonine in a dosis of 20 mcg (80 MRCU/die). 14 patients could be observed for a longer time. In all cases there was a statically significant decrease of the increased alkaline serum phosphatase. The excretion of hydroxyproline in the collected urine had a decreasing tendency. Other laboratory parameters as calcium, phosphatase and acid phosphatase in the serum and the excretion of calcium and phosphate in the urine were not significant influenced by therapy. The patients felt subjective a clear improvement of the bone pains. After a six month-treatment the dosis was reduced (each 2--7 days 20 mcg salmon calcitonin sc). There was observed a rebehaviour of the subjective symptoms and an increase of the alkaline serum phosphatase, which did not reach the unitial values before the beginning of treatment. Calcitonine is an effective substance for the treatment of an active Paget's disease.