Definition: Organic compounds which contain P-C-P bonds, where P stands for phosphonates or phosphonic acids. These compounds affect calcium metabolism. They inhibit ectopic calcification and slow down bone resorption and bone turnover. Technetium complexes of diphosphonates have been used successfully as bone scanning agents.
pamidronate [ APD,(3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-biphosphonate,1-hydroxy-3-aminopropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid,(3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-bisphosphonate,AHPrBP,Aredia,Novartis brand of pamidronate disodium salt,amidronate,amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonate,aminohydroxypropylidene diphosphonate,aminopropanehydroxydiphosphonate,pamidronate calcium,pamidronate disodium,pamidronate monosodium ] inhibits osteolytic bone lesions; inhibits the mevalonate pathway, which is required for the prenylation of the small GTPase; RN given refers to parent cpd