title: To assess vascular calcification in the patients of hypoparathyroidism using multidetector computed tomography scan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our pilot data showed an increased intima media thickness in the patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH). Alteration in homeostasis of calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) may predispose to increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The data on objective assessment of this increased risk is however lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of altered calcium, phosphate, and PTH homeostasis in the patients with SIH on coronary calcium score (a marker of increase vascular risk) by multidetector computed tomography scan (MDCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, we measured coronary CT calcium score in 30 patients of SIH and compared with 40 age and sex matched healthy subjects. Correlation of coronary calcium score with biochemical parameters was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of the 30 cases (10%) with SIH were found to have coronary artery calcification (CAC) of varying degree, whereas none of the control showed CAC (P = 0.07). The patients with CAC had significantly lower serum calcium levels (albumin corrected), as compared to the patients without CAC. Inverse correlation of CAC was found with serum calcium levels. No correlation was found with other biochemical parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vascular risk is increased in the patients with SIH as assessed by coronary calcium score measured by MDCT. Low serum calcium levels might be a predisposing factor for this increased risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Manphool
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhadada
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Yashdeep
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
keywords: Cardiovascular risk; coronary calcium scores; coronary computed tomography; hypoparathyroidism; multidetector computed tomography scan