title: Calcium metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Calcium metabolism was studied prospectively in 12 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Two patients showed mild hypocalcemia, malabsorption of calcium, and elevated plasma parathyroid hormone concentrations. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was decreased in one and low-normal in the second. These two patients and a third showed aminoaciduria on thin layer chromatography. Calcium metabolism was apparently restored to normal by dihydrotachysterol, a vitamin D analog, but no improvement in neurologic function resulted. Bone radiographs taken in search of metabolic bone disease showed a significant increase in the incidence of congenital vertebral anomalies in the ALS patients (50% versus 8%). The relationship of the abnormalities in calcium metabolism and in vertebral structure to the etiology of motor neuron disease is not known.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium