Therapy

Alternatives include

• gallium nitrate (200 mg/ m ² per day iv for 5 days) ^a

• It is more effective than etidronate ^a or calcitonin ^a at lowering calcium levels
• It reduces the need for further treatment ^a
• It increases the risk of hypophosphataemia ^a

Gallium nitrate helps correct hypercalcaemia and reduces the need for further treatment

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
hypercalcaemia a	gallium nitrate	etidronate	normocalcaemia at 7 days	43%	-90% (-184% to -28%)	3 (2 to 5)
			additional treatment required at 7 days	27%	67% (9% to 90%)	5 (3 to 99)
			hypophosphataemia at weeks	41%	-118% (-228% to -45%)	-2 (-4 to -1)