Glucagon in the Treatment of Paget's Disease of Bone

Abstract

Glucagon given by intravenous infusion at a dosage of 0·2 to 0·8 mg/hour to four patients with Paget's disease of bone resulted in a dramatic fall in plasma alkaline phosphatase. This was associated with a fall in 24-hour urinary calcium and in total urinary hydroxyproline excretion and a marked relief of bone pain. Glucagon may induce these changes by three possible mechanisms: (1) by stimulating release of calcitonin; (2) by a direct action of the hormone on bone; and (3) by stimulation of certain bone pyrophosphatases, thus altering the local mechanisms controlling the rate of bone formation and resorption.