Lack of variation of plasma beta-endorphin after clodronate infusion in patients with increased bone resorption

• Published in: Current therapeutic research Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 214 - 220
• Main Authors: Franceschini, R., Corsini, G., Cataldi, A., Garibaldi, A., Cianciosi, P., Scordamaglia, A., Barreca, T., Rolandi, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Belle Mead, NJ EM Inc USA 01.08.1993; Excerpta medica
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Human; Immunopathology; Paget disease of bone; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Resorption; Malignant hemopathy; Bone disease; Malignant tumor; Myeloma; Osteolysis; β-Endorphin; Neuropeptide; Opioid peptide; Blood; Blood plasma; Osteoporosis; Chemotherapy; Analgesic; Treatment; Immunoglobulinopathy; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Bone; Mechanism of action
• ISSN: 0011-393X; 1879-0313
• DOI: 10.1016/S0011-393X(05)80604-6

Twenty patients with increased bone resorption (osteoporosis, 6; Paget's disease, 2; multiple myeloma, 5; cancer, 7) received clodronate 300 mg by 1-hr infusion for 7 days. There was a significant decrease in serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and urinary hydroxyproline in all patients, and a prompt improvement of bone pain occurred concomitantly. No significant changes in circulating beta-endorphin concentration during the week of therapy were observed. Changes in the beta-endorphin concentrations were evaluated by a 2-hr period of blood sampling during and after the drug infusion and by daily determinations. Data suggest that the clodronate-induced analgesic effect is probably due to a peripheral action on osteoclasts in absence of any central effect.