Parathormone Levels vs. Parathormone Function

Abstract

Calcium loss from the body or circulating fluids is usually not reflected in sustained lowering of the serum calcium, largely because of the very efficient homeostatic control of serum calcium via bone stores. Thus, fecal calcium loss as "soaps" in steatorrhea and intra-abdominal calcium saponification in pancreatitis have largely fallen into disrepute as causative factors for the maintenance of hypocalcemia seen in these conditions. This development has led to a series of recent investigations^{1 2 3} of possible hormonal abnormalities in acute pancreatitis, the article by Robertson et al. in this issue of the Journal being the most recent.Most observers agree . . .