Treatment of multiple myeloma with nasal spray calcitonin: a histomorphometric and biochemical study

To evaluate the effect of calcitonin on the bone lesions of multiple myeloma, we studied 11 patients treated for 3 months with salmon calcitonin in nasal spray (200 IU) and 500 mg of elemental calcium/day. Pre- and post-treatment biochemical and histomorphometric parameters were compared to those of 12 patients treated for the same time with 500 mg elemental calcium alone. Both groups received the same hematological treatment. In the group treated with calcitonin there was a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in trabecular bone volume, cortical thickness, osteoid volume and osteoid seam thickness index and the osteoclast resorption surface fell significantly (P less than 0.01). There was also a decline (P less than 0.001) in corrected serum calcium and OHP/Cr, which accounts for the diminished bone resorption. The group not treated with calcitonin showed only significant changes in OHP/Cr which increase (P less than 0.05). Calcitonin was perfectly tolerated by all patients and our results show it to be useful in the treatment of bone lesions of multiple myeloma.