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High bone mass and hypocalcaemic myopathy in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism
J F Van Offel1, C M De Gendt, L S De Clerck
1Department of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium. jan.vanoffel@uia.ua.ac.be
Abstract:
The clinical manifestations of hypoparathyroidism are mainly characterised by increased neuromuscular irritability as a consequence of hypocalcaemia. Occasionally, elevation of the muscle enzymes may mimic polymyositis. Reduced parathyroid hormone production, but also vitamin D treatment and calcium supplementation, may contribute to the increased bone mass found in patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with untreated idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and a high bone mass despite severe muscle impairment due to hypocalcaemic myopathy.