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THE THYROID AND CALCIUM HOMEOSTASIS IN MAN : EVALUATION BY CALCIUM INFUSION
Author(s) -
IBBERTSON H. K.,
ROCHE A. H. G.,
PYBUS J.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1967.16.2.121
Subject(s) - calcium , medicine , endocrinology , calcium metabolism , thyroid , hypoparathyroidism , parathyroid hormone , tetany , homeostasis
Summary Nine normal subjects, and five patients with primary thyroid failure, were infused with calcium gluconate solution (0.6 mEq of calcium per kilogram of body weight) for three hours. Serum calcium and magnesium levels were measured during the next 24 hours. The mean rise in serum calcium level in both treated and untreated patients with thyroid failure was significantly greater than the mean control levels after the fourth hour, and the elevation persisted at 24 hours. No additional abnormality was seen in subjects who also lacked parathyroid tissue, although in one patient with primary hypoparathyroidism alone a similar rise was seen. There were no significant changes in serum magnesium level in any of the patients studied. The results suggest that thyrocalcitonin normally acts in man to restore the serum calcium to normal after its experimental elevation. The clinical implications of this are discussed.