Radionuclide uptake studies of bone: a quantitative method of evaluating the response of patients with Paget's disease to diphosphonate therapy.

In order to evaluate and quantitate the therapeutic efficacy of disodium etridonate (EHDP) in the treatment of Paget's disease, a prospective double-blind study was instituted. Subjects received either placebo, low-dose EHDP, or high-dose EHDP and were evaluated prior to therapy and 6 months later. Bone scans were performed with 99mTc or 18F and radioisotopic uptake studies were conducted. The results were correlated with clinical improvement, biochemical parameters, and radiographic skeletal surveys, and indicate that the radioisotopic uptake studies are both a sensitive and reproducible means of evaluating the degree of response to EHDP.