PAMIDRONATE IN PATIENTS WITH PAINFUL BONE METASTASES, WHO FAILED INITIAL TREATMENT WITH HORMONES AND OR CHEMOTHERAPY/

In an open prospective study, 40 patients with progressing painful bon e metastases received 45 mg pamidronate by l-h infusion every 3 weeks. A total of 27 patients (67%; 95% CI 53%-81%) experienced relief of pa in as shown by the significant reduction of the bone pain score after three pamidronate administrations (from 2.25 +/- 0.64 to 1.15 +/- 0.36 ), Furthermore, 20 patients (60%) reduced their consumption of analges ics. We did not observe any objective response by skeletal radiologica l examination, In 11 patients presenting a skeletal progressive diseas e, bone pain improved, as well as their mobility score, but not their fatigue score, Treatment was well tolerated, Only 1 patient discontinu ed the treatment because of fever and cutaneous rash after the first a dministration, In conclusion, our results seem to confirm that pamidro nate exerts a benefical effect on bone pain and mobility impairment in patients with painful osteolytic bone metastases.