Studies of47Ca Metabolism in Acromegaly

Abstract

Calcium and phosphorus metabolism was studied in 4 patients with acromegaly, 2 of whom had received pituitary irradiation. Calcium and phosphorus balance, exchangeable calcium (P[image]) calcium "accretion" rate (vo +) and "bone resorption" rate (vo[long dash]) were measured. In all patients there was a negative calcium balance; in 3 of them there was a negative phosphorus balance. Urinary calcium was moderately increased in the 2 untreated patients, and normal in the 2 treated patients. Inallpatients, vo + and vo - were abnormally increased. These results are comparable to those which have been produced in normal subjects with human growth hormone. These findings support the view that vo + and vo[long dash]are abnormally increased in acromegaly and that the increase results from growth hormone. The possible relationship of the results to osteoporosis is discussed.