DECREASED PARATHYROID FUNCTION IN HYPERTHYROIDISM: INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SERUM PARATHYROID HORMONE, CALCIUM-PHOSPHORUS METABOLISM AND THYROID FUNCTION

Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (S-iPTH) was measured together with serum and urinary calcium and phosphorus in 45 hyperthyroid patients in order to assess parathyroid fe of hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of hypercalcaemia was 51.1% using serum calcium values corrected for individual variations in serum albumin concentration compared to 15.6% using the uncorrected calcium values. S-iPTH was decreased and inversely correlated to serum calcium values. S-iPTH was decreased and inversely correlated to serum calcium (corrected). Subnormal levels of S-iPTH were found in 28.9% of the patients. The urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus was increased and positively correlated to the degree of hyperthyroidism. The tubular reabsorption of calcium (TRCa%) was decreased, positively correlated to S-iPTH and inversely correlated to serum calcium. Increased mobilisation of bone mineral in hyperthyroidism is suggested mainly to be responsible for the elevated serarathyroid function.