STUDIES OF CALCIUM METABOLISM IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA WITH CALCIUM47 AND METABOLIC-BALANCE TECHNIQUES

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Abstract
The present report describes the results of combined metabolic-balance and Ca47-tracer studies in six normocalcemic, ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma. All patients were found to be in significantly negative calcium balance, but no consistent deviations in phosphorus or nitrogen balance were observed. The isotopic studies indicated that endogenous fecal calcium was a very significant route of calcium loss in these patients, exceeding urinary calcium in five of six patients. The results with combined oral and intravenous Ca47-tracer studies strongly suggest that accurate estimates of calcium absorption and endogenous fecal calcium excretion can be obtained with these techniques. The importance of determining the total fecal calcium, as well as of distinguishing unabsorbed dietary calcium and endogenous fecal calcium, is illustrated by the results in one patient before and during 5-fluorouracil therapy.