title: Hypoparathyroidism during alpha-INF therapy in a patient with multiple myeloma.
abstract: A 66 year-old woman with multiple myeloma developed hypoparathyroidism during combination chemotherapy with melphalan, prednisolone, and alpha-interferon (INF). Seven weeks after commencement of the therapy, the serum calcium (Ca) level decreased to 7.4 mg/dL, and the phosphorus (P) level increased to 7.2 mg/dL; parathyroid hormone (PTH) was at a critically low level. By 13 weeks after discontinuation of alpha-INF, the levels of Ca, P, and PTH had returned to normal values: 8.6 mg/dL, 4.5 mg/dL, and 310 pg/ml, respectively. These changes suggest a strong correlation between hypoparathyroidism and the administration of alpha-INF. Autoantibodies against the parathyroid gland cell were not present in the serum of this patient by indirect immunofluorescent techniques. The mechanism of hypoparathyroidism by alpha-INF could not be identified, but this is the first case of this condition during alpha-INF therapy.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi-shi, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naruse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011239:Prednisolone; D008558:Melphalan