• M Schürmann, T Vogel, A Gärtner, H J Andress, and G Gradl.
• Unfallchirurgie, Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München im Klinikum Grosshadern. mschuerm@gch.med.uni-muenchen.de
• Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2001 Sep 1; 139 (5): 452-7.

UnlabelledPURPOSE/METHODS/PATIENTS: Calcitonin is a common treatment in patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS I), although its effects are being controversially discussed. In a prospective study of 24 patients with CRPS I of the upper limb, we examined the tolerance of daily doses of 0.5 mg human calcitonin administered subcutaneously over 8 weeks. To assess the benefit of this therapy, the patients were clinically examined every second week. The results were compared to a consecutive group of 25 CRPS 1 patients who received only analgetics and physiotherapy.ResultsWith regard to all examined parameters (spontaneous pain, grip strength, edema, hand function, systematic temperature difference), the patients treated with calcitonin showed an improvement during the observation time. However, a statistically significant difference to the control group was calculated only for the reduction of the edema (P < 0.01). 83% (20/24 patients) of the calcitonin-treated patients suffered from severe, mostly gastroenterological side-effects. Hence therapy had to be discontinued in 3 cases (13%).ConclusionThe therapy with calcitonin has the burden of numerous unpleasant side-effects and causes only a slight therapeutic improvement. Thus, calcitonin must only be prescribed with reservations for patients suffering from CRPS I.

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