IDIOPATHIC HYPOPARATHYROIDISM

Abstract

Of the 2 cases of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism reported, 1 was that of a boy of 8 who had suffered from moniliasis of the mouth, nails, and skin of the face since he was 6 mos. old, and the other was that of a man of 57, who had suffered from the disease for 16 yrs. In the 1st case symptoms of steatorrhea developed at the age of 8 yrs., supposed to be due to moniliasis of the intestines. In the 2d case the most conspicuous feature was the increased density of the skeleton with new bone formation, especially of the pelvic bones. Reduction of these calcareous deposits was attempted by producing a negative balance; the patient was placed on a Ca poor diet and given ammonium chloride by mouth. This decreased the loss of both Ca and P in the feces, but also reduced the urinary excretion of Ca, thus increasing the positive balance, whereas the urinary P excretion was increased, but not enough to produce a negative balance. ACTH had no effect on the Ca balance in the short time it was used. The expt. had to be stopped because of increasing hypocalcemia with tetanic symptoms and angina pectoris.