International Digest

Pamidronate to reduce myeloma complications

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 429

Source: Berenson JR, Lichtenstein A, Porter L, Dimopoulos MA, Bordoni R, George S, et al. Efficacy of pamidronate in reducing skeletal events in patients with advanced multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 488-93.

Investigators in the Myeloma Aredia Study Group conducted a randomized, 9-month, multicentre trial to compare the efficacy of monthly pamidronate therapy (90 mg, intravenous infusion over 4 hours) with that of placebo in reducing skeletal events (pathologic fracture, irradiation or surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression) and hypercalcemia in 392 patients with stage III multiple myeloma and at least one osteolytic lesion. The time to the first skeletal event was significantly longer in the pamidronate group than in the placebo group. The proportion of patients with early hypercalcemia was also lower in the pamidronate group. The pamidronate group had better performance status and required less analgesia than the placebo group and tolerated therapy well.

| CMAJ August 15, 1996 (vol 155, no 4) |