Change of serum calcitonin in patients receiving glucocorticoids: an acute phase study.

The basal and calcium-stimulated calcitonin response was measured in 10 patients with giant cell arteritis before and 1, 3 and 6 wk after the start of daily treatment with 60 mg of prednisone. The study shows that plasma calcitonin level in response to a calcium injection is increased after 1 wk treatment with prednisone. Later on the calcitonin secretion capacity diminishes significantly compared to the initial level. The phylogenetic old calcitonin system first tries to prevent the occurrence of the process of osteoporosis. Moreover, exhaustion of this system later contributes to the process of steroid osteoporosis.