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ISSUE 2 APRIL
Letters to the Editor

Disodium pamidronate

  • Lee Russell

The Editorial Executive Committee welcomes letters, which should be less than 250 words. Before a decision to publish is made, letters which refer to a published article may be sent to the author for a response. Any letter may be sent to an expert for comment. When letters are published, they are usually accompanied in the same issue by their responses or comments. The Committee screens out discourteous, inaccurate or libellous statements. The letters are sub-edited before publication. Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest. The Committee's decision on publication is final.

 

Letter to the editor

Editor, – One of our patients who was receiving disodium pamidronate 90 mg (Aredia) has developed gynaecomastia. We then conducted a survey within our clinic to determine if there were other patients showing similar or related adverse effects during treatment with pamidronate.

The results showed that, of the 13 patients surveyed, two males were experiencing gynaecomastia; one female, tender and swollen breasts; and another patient had developed a cyst below the nipple.

No other drugs were indicated or suspected as being the cause. Whilst these adverse effects have not resulted in the need to cease treatment in any of these patients, it is worthwhile to note that these adverse effects may occur with the use of disodium pamidronate.

Lee Russell
Oncology Pharmacist
Sydney Haematology and Oncology Clinics
Hornsby, N.S.W.

Lee Russell

Oncology Pharmacist, Sydney Haematology and Oncology Clinics, Hornsby, N.S.W.