Hypercalcemia Associated with Silicone-Induced Granulomas

Abstract

HYPERCALCEMIA occurs in a variety of chronic granulomatous diseases, such as sarcoidosis,^{1 2 3 4} tuberculosis,^{5 , 6} and berylliosis.⁷ Except in sarcoidosis, the mechanism for the hypercalcemia observed in these diseases is unknown. The hypercalcemia of sarcoidosis has been demonstrated to be associated with increased plasma levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (calcitriol),^{1 2 3 4} and it is believed to be a consequence of abnormal regulation of vitamin D metabolism.² The source of elevated calcitriol may be extrarenal³; Mason et al.⁸ have recently demonstrated calcitriol synthesis by sarcoid lymph-node homogenates.This report describes the occurrence of hypercalcemia associated with increased levels of plasma calcitriol in a . . .