Selected Features of the Clinical Course of Hypoparathyroidism

INFORMATION concerning the function of every endocrine organ has been obtained by ablation experiments and study of the deficiency state. The parathyroids are no exception, since much of our knowledge of calcium and phosphorus metabolism has resulted from the study of patients with parathyroid deficiency. The purpose of this presentation is to review our clinical experience with hypoparathyroidism as it pertains to parathyroid function in man. Several excellent general reviews of hypoparathyroidism with detailed analysis of case reports have been published1-3since the major features were so concisely formulated by Dr. Fuller Albright and his associates.4 The criteria for the diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism are as follows: (1) low serum calcium and high serum phosphate levels usually associated with low urinary calcium excretion, (2) normal renal function, (3) no defect in intestinal absorption, (4) absence of rickets, and (5) chronic tetany.5However, these criteria are not absolute. For