Elcatonin(合成鰻魚Calctionin之誘導體)對於原發性體質鬆症所引起之腰背痛之臨床效果

Elcatonin, the calcitonin derived from eel, is biologically very potent, and is stable to light and heat. In this study, 20 patients were selected to observe the analgesic effect of elcatonin. All the patients were diagnosed as primary osteoporosis. The age distribution ranged from 57 to 85 years old. For each patient, 20 units of elcatonin were given intramuscularly twice per week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated at outpatient clinic every week. According to Jikei classification of spinal osteoporosis, 5 were grade I, 9 grade II, and 6 grade III; according to singh’s classification of the trabecular pattern of the hip (16 patients), one was grade 1,4 grade 2,7 grade 3,3 grade 4 and 1 grade 5. Eight patients (40%) had associated compression fracture, 4 had spondylosis. The results were evaluated by relief of spontaneous pain, improvement of daily activities, such as sitting, turning, standing and walking ability. At 4 weeks, back pain disappeared completely in 2 patients, markedly relief in 16 patients (80%), and mild relief in 2 patients (10%). Also 17 patients were able to walk freely (85%). Only one patient still had walking difficulty. No patient had skin reaction or side effect. The electrolytes and biochemical data were all within normal limits. Only 2 patients had the feeling of cold sweating after initial injection. We conclude that elcatonin is effective to relieve back pain in patients with osteoporosis, even they had associated compression fracture of the vertebral bodies.