[Combination therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin in hypercalcemic crisis caused by primary hyperparathyroidism]

Pamidronate (aminopropylidene diphosphonate, APD) is known to be an effective agent in lowering plasma calcium in cancer associated hypercalcaemia and in primary hyperparathyroidism. Combined therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin has proved efficient in the treatment of severe cancer-associated hypercalcaemia. A 66-year-old woman in hypercalcaemic crisis caused by primary hypreparathyroidism was successfully treated with this combined therapy. Albumin corrected plasma calcium was 5.26 mmol/l on arrival and the PTH level was very high. The combined therapy lowered the plasma calcium to normal and made it possible to perform elective parathyreoidectomy. A 5.8 g parathyroid adenoma was removed. It is recommended to consider combined therapy with pamidronate and calcitonin in the emergency management of hypercalcaemic crisis.