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New approach to the treatment of hypercalcemia The effect of short‐term treatment with mithramycin
Author(s) -
Slayton Robert E.,
Shnider Bruce I.,
Elias Elias,
Horton John,
Perlia Charles P.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1971125833
Subject(s) - medicine , bolus (digestion) , calcium , metastatic calcification , vomiting , nausea , pharmacology , gastroenterology , anesthesia
An intravenous bolus injection of mithramycin (25 μg per kilogram) was given to patients with malignancy‐related hypercalcemia persisting after hydmtion. In most instances a gradual but steady fall in the serum calcium occurred within the next 48 hours, accompanied by a fall in serum inorganic phosphate and 24 hour urinary calcium excretion. Patients with head and neck cancer, cancer of the lung, and multiple myeloma were somewhat less responsive as a group than patients with cancer of the breast or kidney. Aside from transient nausea and vomiting, side effects were minimal. Small doses of mithramycin inhibit bone resorption; dactinomycin and other RNA inhibitors block the action of vitamin D in vitro. The hypocalcemia following administration of these agents may be an expression of their antivitamin D action.