Hypoparathyroidism in children: a study of eight cases

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare pediatric endocrine disease, which is caused by low circulating levels of PTH or insensitivity to its action in the target tissues.

To report the clinical and biochemical characteristics and theoutcome of 8 patients with hypoparathyroidism.

We analyzed retrospectively the results of clinical, biochemical, radiological findings of patients with hypoparathyroidism diagnosed in pediatric department of Hedi Chaker Hospital during the period 1994-2013.

Eight patients (5 females and 3 males) were diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism during 20 years's period. The median age at the onset of first symptoms was 17,5 months (15 days- 5 years and 10 months). Seizures were the most commonly presenting symptom and were seen in seven cases. Eight patients were diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism (Di-Georges syndrome: one case, Sanjad Sakati syndrome: 3 case, kearns sayre syndrome: 1 case, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis- ectodermal dystrophy: one case, idiopathic hypoparathyroidism: two cases. Conventional treatment was based on calcium and vitamin D analogs. The average of follow up was 5 years. Nephrocalcinosis was noted in two patients. The death occurred in five patients; it was related to hypocalcaemia in one patient.

The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism is easy; it's established on the association of hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia. Etiologic approach is based on molecular findings. Vitamin D analog treatment of hypoparathyroidism in children involves the challenge, of adjusting treatment dosage to minimize both symptomatic hypocalcemia and asymptomatic, but potentially kidney-damaging, hypercalciuria causing nephrocalcinosis and renal insufficiency.