ABSTRACT
AIM: Therapeutic means for patients with painful bony metastases are strongly limited. In these patients, a systemic therapy with isotopes can be helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rhenium-186 HEDP for pain palliation in patients with disseminated bone metastases. METHODS: 30 patients taking analgesics because of bone pain received one or more injection of 1295 MBq 186Re HEDP for pain palliation. RESULTS: In 70% of the patients, therapy resulted in a significant reduction of pain. The average duration of pain relief was 4 weeks (1 week-2.5 months). The main side effects of therapy were a decrease of platelets (aver. 30000/microliters) and an increase of pain for 1-2 days (flare-phenomenon). CONCLUSION: Therapy with rhenium-186 HEDP can be used complementarily to analgesic therapy in patients with painful, disseminated bone metastases.
