HYPERCALCEMIA SECONDARY TO BONE METASTASES FROM CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST: I. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM CALCIUM AND ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE VALUES

Abstract

In 36 patients with hvpercalcemia secondary to bone metastases from cancer of the breast there were 65 episodes in which a change in serum Ca level could be correlated with a change in alkaline phosphatase activity. In 60 episodes (92%) the relationship was inverse. These results suggest that roentgenograms supplemented with serial detns. of the concn. of serum Ca and alkaline phosphatase may furnish a more adequate evaluation of the metabolic status of osseous metastases at any one time than roentgenography alone. There was suggestive evidence that onset of hypercalcemia is preceded by a premonitory fall in the serum alkaline phosphatase activity and that testosterone-induced hypercalcemia was associated with wider fluctuations of serum alkaline phosphatase activity than was spontaneous hypercalcemia.