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Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
ISSN: 1596-5996 EISSN: 1596-5996
Vol. 16, No. 5, 2017, pp. 1181-1186
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Bioline Code: pr17151
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 16, No. 5, 2017, pp. 1181-1186
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Hypercalcaemia in patients with breast cancer: Patterns and treatment outcomes among in-patients in a Malaysian tertiary healthcare facility
Bassam, Hassan & Zoriah, Aziz
Abstract
Purpose: To assess the patterns of use of bisphosphonate therapies for hypercalcaemia in breast
cancer patients, and their outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective chart review study of breast cancer patients hospitalised between 2009 and
2014 at Penang Hospital, a public tertiary hospital in Malaysia was conducted. Patients with mild (total
serum calcium = 10.5 - 11.9 mg/dl); moderate (12 - 12.9 mg/dl), and severe (≥13 mg/dl) hypercalcaemia
at cancer diagnosis or during cancer treatment were included. Relevant data were extracted from
medical records analyzed statistically.
Results: From the records, 1,023 breast cancer patients were identified, 164 of which had
hypercalcaemia at cancer diagnosis or during cancer treatment. About 25 % of the hypercalcaemic
patients had advanced-stage cancer, while 20 % had severe hypercalcaemia. Regarding the pattern of
bisphosphonate use, the results showed that more than half of the patients received pamidronate as
first-line treatment; about a quarter were treated with zoledronic acid, while others received only normal
saline. These treatments produced significant reductions in serum calcium levels relative to baseline
values.
Conclusion: Although zoledronic acid is considered as the treatment of choice for hypercalcemia of
malignancy, the current study found that the first line treatment used for hypercalcemia is pamidronate,
mainly because its cost is lower than that of zoledronic acid.
Keywords
Pamidronate; Zoledronic acid; Bisphosphonates; Calcium levels
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