[Treatment of hypercalcemia of tumoral origin with two diphosphonates]

Two diphosphonates, EHDP (disodium etidronate, or ethane-hydroxy-diphosphonate) and Cl2MDP (disodium clodronate, or dichloromethylene-diphosphonate) were injected in various doses in 8 patients who had had one or more episodes of malignant hypercalcemia. All patients responded well to the drugs after a time lapse of 2-10 days. Tolerance of the drugs was excellent. EHDP, and especially Cl2MDP, are promising agents for the treatment of hypercalcemia and the inhibition of bone resorption in malignant disorders.