[Treatment of Sudeck's syndrome with human calcitonin]

Human calcitonin (Cibacalcin), at a dose of 0.5 mg daily for 15 days followed by 0.5 mg every other day for 4-6 months, was administered to 11 patients (eight men and three women, aged 36-74 years) with posttraumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower limbs (stage I-II). Within one month there was significant lessening of pain, improved mobility and less oedema. Biochemical tests were within normal limits before and after treatment, while the pre-treatment raised bone retention of 99mTc-methylene-diphosphonate and increased blood flow in the affected area became normal during treatment. In nine patients healing occurred in the course of four to six months on treatment, in two patients after more than six months. There were no serious side-effects requiring interruption of treatment. These results indicate that human calcitonin should be tried in the treatment of this condition.