Hypocalcaemia, a possible manifestation of thyrotoxicosis.
A severely thyrotoxic patient was found to have hypocalcaemia and tetany, which cleared when she became euthyroid. Cessation of treatment with propranolol and propylthiouracil resulted in a recurrence of the thyrotoxicosis and the reappearance of hypocalcaemia. Reinstitution of treatment resulted in a second remission of the thyrotoxicosis and correction of the hypocalcaemia. It is suggested that in this patient, the thyrotoxicosis was the cause of hypocalcaemia. The various pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications