CLINICAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERCALCAEMIA

Abstract With multi‐element chemical testing 90 patients with hypercalcaemia (serum calcium 5.6 mEq/1 or more) have been found during 9 months. The frequency of hypercalcaemia was roughly estimated at 1–2%/year. According to clinical data the patients were divided into five main groups: 1) verified primary hyperparathyroidism, 2) probable primary hyperparathyroidism, 3) possible primary hyperparathyroidism, 4) hypercalcaemia of other known cause, and 5) hypercalcaemia of unknown cause. The first three groups comprise 20% of the total number of patients and the last two 40%. The frequency of hyperparathyroidism seemed to correspond to that found in other studies. Drugs of different kinds, especially thiazides, were the most common cause of hypercalcaemia, closely followed by hyperparathyroidisms and malignant diseases. A few case reports are described.