[Calcitonin treatment of metabolic bone disease induced by parenteral nutrition]

After a near total small bowel resection for an acute thrombosis of the mesenterial artery, a 61 year-old man was treated with total parenteral nutrition at home for five years. The treatment was complicated by episodes of sepsis, anaemia and uremia. After four years he developed pain in long bones and the back and grave hypercalcuria. Roentgenogram showed demineralisation. There was no hyperparathyroidism and serum phosphate and serum calcium were normal. His chronic metabolic acidosis was treated continuously with enteral acetate. He received basal amounts of vitamin D and amino acids. By administering calcitonin we were able to cure his progressive bone pains and normalize his calcium urinary output. No side effects were observed. Therefore, calcitonin may contribute to the treatment of bone disease associated with total parenteral nutrition.