PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF MULTIPLE INCREASING ORAL DOSES OF DIMETHYL-APD ON BONE METABOLISM DYNAMICS AND SAFETY PROFILE

A random block study, with 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg of 3-dimethylamino- 1-hydroxypropylidene-1, 1-bisphosphonate or dimethyl APD and 300, 600 and 900 mg of 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1, 1-bisphosphonate or pami dronate (APD), in daily oral doses, showed that all doses were active when assessed in patients with Paget's bone disease. Dimethyl APD admi nistration was followed by an increase in 1.25 (HO)(2)D levels, an eff ect that must be confirmed. Neither severe side effects nor significan t laboratory abnormalities were detected despite some decrease in whit e blood cell count seen with the higher dose of APD. Gastrointestinal tolerance to dimethyl APD of dimethyl APD was acceptable but further i nvestigation is required.