CALCITONIN

Course overview

SALMON CALCITONIN (AFTER THIS REFERRED TO AS “CALCITONIN”) IS AN ANALOG OF HUMAN CALCITONIN USED IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS, PAGET DISEASE OF BONE, AND HYPERCALCEMIA. ITS CLINICAL IMPORTANCE DERIVES FROM ITS ABILITY TO INHIBIT OSTEOCLASTS AND INCREASE RENAL EXCRETION OF CALCIUM. THROUGH THESE PROCESSES, BONE MATRIX RESORPTION AND SERUM CALCIUM ARE BOTH DECREASED. FOR THESE REASONS, IT IS OF BENEFIT IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS, PAGET DISEASE OF BONE, AND EMERGENT HYPERCALCEMIA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILE, TOXICITY, DOSING, PHARMACODYNAMICS, AND MONITORING OF CALCITONIN, PERTINENT FOR CLINICIANS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM WHERE CALCITONIN THERAPY CAN PROVIDE PATIENT BENEFIT.