Acute treatment with calcitonin in primary hyperparathyroidism and severe hypercalcaemia of other origin.

Porcine or salmon calcitonin was given, as emergency treatment for 17 patients with hypercalcaemia, mostly of a severe degree. A lowering of serum calcium was achieved in all of 11 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and in another 4 with malignancies. In most of the patients, the lowering of serum calcium level was accompanied by a pronounced clinical amelioration. This made possible successful parathyroidectomy without complications in the patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In all patients except one, a decrease in serum creatinine was observed during treatment. Creatinine clearance was studied during calcitonin treatment in 2 patients and showed an increase. Calcitonin was ineffective in 2 of the patients with hypercalcaemia: one with plasmacell sarcoma of the lungs and another one with sarcoidosis. No serious side-effects were observed. Due to its quick action and lack of toxic effects, calcitonin is recommended when a prompt reduction of serum calcium is of vital importance.