[Calcitonin test in patients with bone changes during the course of myeloma].

Hypocalcemic response following the administration of 160 units of porcine calcitonin was investigated in 14 patients with bone lesions caused by myeloma and in 9 control subjects. Significant decrease in blood serum calcium level was found in 85 per cent of myeloma patients, both in those with osteolytic bone lesions and those with generalized osteoporosis. Moreover, in all the patients a significant positive correlation was found between hypocalcemic response and the initial blood serum calcium concentration. Calcitonin administration did not cause any changes in blood serum phosphate level in myeloma patients.