Mechanism of Adrenal-Steroid Reversal of Hypercalcemia in Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

HYPERCALCEMIA is a frequent complication in multiple myeloma, occurring in 70 per cent of 72 cases reviewed by Gutman et al.¹ It is well established that carbohydrate-active adrenocorticosteroid hormones are effective in reversing the hypercalcemia seen in multiple myeloma, but the mechanism of steroid action in this situation is not known. We have studied a patient with multiple myeloma who provided a unique opportunity to investigate several aspects of calcium metabolism before, during and after the spontaneous appearance of hypercalcemia. Baseline studies were done while the patient was normocalcemic. As shown in Figure 1, the patient became hypercalcemic while on the . . .