Synthetic human calcitonin in refractory Paget's disease of bone.

Fourteen patients with symptomatic and active Paget's disease of bone who had demonstrated resistance to parenteral synthetic salmon calcitonin, oral disodium etidronate, or both in combination were treated with parenteral synthetic human calcitonin. Eleven patients (79%) demonstrated clinical and chemical improvement for up to five years. Two patients received additional benefit with combined synthetic human calcitonin and etidronate disodium.