Stabilization of hearing loss in Paget's disease with calcitonin and etidronate

Paget's disease is a common skeletal disease characterized by abnormal bony resorption and deposition. Although the disease principally affects the axial skeleton, skull and temporal bone involvement occur. Affected individuals have significantly different rates of progression of hearing loss than normal persons. We describe two patients in whom this progressive hearing loss was halted and even reversed. These patients were treated with calcitonin and etidronate disodium and have been followed up for five and 3 1/2 years, respectively. Computed tomographic scans demonstrating extent of disease are included along with our treatment regimen and alkaline phosphatase response curves.