Potassium Deficiency in Anorexia Nervosa, with Reference to Renal Tubular Vacuolation

The case is presented of a patient with sarcoidosis and hypercalcaemia in whom decreased tubular reabsorption of phosphate was demonstrated, producing a biochemical resemblance to primary hyperparathyroidism.The differential diagnosis between the two conditions is discussed, and it is concluded that tests of phosphate excretion may be misleading, but that the response to cortisone gives valuable information.We thank Dr. A. D. Everett for referring the patient to us, Dr. A. Gordon Signy for his help with the histological and biochemical investigations, Dr. F. Harwood