Antagonism Between Parathyroid Extract and Adrenal Cortical Steroids in Man

Abstract

Metabolic balance studies were done in 2 patients with hypoparathyroidism who received cortisol or prednisone during the administration of parathyroid extract. Administration of prednisone was associated with phosphate retention, decreased urinary calcium, decreased serum calcium, citrate and glycoprotein concentrations, and increased serum phosphate. Excretion of parathyroid activity in the urine of 1 patient was uninfluenced by the administration of prednisone. It is concluded that the antagonistic effect of the adrenal cortical steroids was expressed at the biochemical sites of action of the parathyroid extract in bone and kidney, that the steroids reduce parathyroid secretion. (J Clin Endocr 25: 445,1965), but that their administration probably does not result in degradation or inactivation of the hormone.