Primary hyperparathyroidism with duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection

A patient with duodenal ulcer and primary hyperparathyroidism was found to have an abnormally high intragastric pH. The pH level returned to normal after surgical removal of the parathyroid adenoma followed by normalization of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium concentrations. The patient was positive for Helicobacter pylon (H. pylori) infection. Although the exact mechanism by which chronic hypercalcemia or high PTH level inhibited gastric acid secretion in this case remains unclear, our findings suggest that hypercalcemia may play some role in H. pylori associated gastroduodenal diseases through induction of proinflammatory cytokines or by enhancing the attachment of H. pylori to gastric epithelial cells.