Hypo-hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

A child is described who presented symptoms from hyperparathyroid bone disease (osteitis fibrosa generalisata) simultaneous with those of mild tetany shown to be due to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. On treatment with vitamin D alone the bone lesions healed and her plasma calcium and phosphorus levels became normal. This improvement has been maintained till the present time (six years). The patient is normal in height and in mental and physical development. Steatorrhoea and renal dysfunction were not present, nor were the physical features of pseudohypoparathyroidism. In these latter respects she is unlike some other patients described recently. The coincidence of signs of hypo- and of hyperparathyroidism in the same patient who has no signs of disease in any other system presents us with a considerable theoretical problem. Figure presented.