C. Campusano et al., Effects of low calcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal womenwith high bone turnover rate, REV MED CHI, 128(4), 2000, pp. 387-391
Background: Calcitonin is specially indicated for the treatment of osteopor
osis ill women that cannot receive estrogen replacement therapy or that hav
e a high bone turnover rate. Aim: To study the effects of low intranasal ca
lcitonin doses on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women with a high bone
turnover. Patients and methods: Forty one healthy women aged 56 +/- 6 years
old, with a mean lapse after menopause of 7.6 +/- 6.5 years and with a hig
h bone turnover rate, evidenced by an urinary hydroxyproline (mg/dl)/creati
nine (g/dl) ratio of 52.4 +/- 7.2, were studied. They were randomly assigne
d to receiive 100 or 50 U/calcitonin thrice a week during 3 months or to a
control group that received placebo. All received 500 mg/clay calcium carbo
nate. Urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio was measured a 0, 15, 30, 60
and 90 days. Plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases was measured at
0, 30 and 90 days. Results: Initial urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio
and plasma bone fraction of alkanine phosphatases were similar in all stud
y groups and there was no change in these parameters during the study perio
d. Conclusions: Intranasal calcitonin in doses of 100 U thrice a week or le
ss, does not modify accelerated bone turnover in postmenopausal women.