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The Calciferol Requirements of Patients with Surgical Hypoparathyroidism
- ANTHONY W. IRELAND, M.B.;
- JOHN S. CLUBB, M.B.;
- FRANCIS C. NEALE, PH.D.;
- SOLOMON POSEN, M.D., F.R.A.C.P.; and
- THOMAS S. REEVE, M.B.
- Requests for reprints should be addressed to Solomon Posen, M.D., Sydney Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W., 2000, Australia.
SUMMARY
Thirty patients with surgical hypoparathyroidism are presented. All received vitamin D therapy in the form of calciferol. Biochemical control, as defined by arbitrary criteria, was achieved in only nine patients for a total period of 26 patient-years.
The mean controlling dose of calciferol was 2.12 mg/day; the mean dose producing hypercalcemia in 16 patients was 3.28 mg/day. No patient was controlled on less than 1.25 mg/day, and only two patients were controlled on a calciferol dose of 1.25 mg/day. Every patient receiving calciferol doses greater than 2.50 mg/day became hypercalcemic. A mechanism is suggested for the proximity between "controlling" and "intoxicating" doses of calciferol in hypoparathyroidism. The documented periods of hypercalcemia lasted 1 to 6 weeks after withdrawal of calciferol.
No significant differences were found between the calciferol requirements of euthyroid and hypothyroid patients.
Article and Author Information
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From the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Sydney and the Department of Biochemistry, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
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This study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the N.S.W. State Cancer Council, and the Edanros Research Foundation Inc., New York.
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- Received February 12, 1968.
- Accepted March 8, 1968.
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