[A case of pseudohypoparathyroidism]

Abstract

We presented a case of a 22-year-old woman with pseudohypoparathyroidism type la. She was a typical congenital Albright syndrome patient with osteodystrophy including hands and feet, accompanied by obesity, strabismum, and retardation growth. Her calcium and phosphate levels were within the normal range which was stated during repeated hospitalisation due to infections. The diagnosis of PHPT was made at the age of 22 when the patient suffered twice from tetany seizure accompanied by numbness and tingling sensation in her hands and around the mouth as well as cramps in her legs. Typical phenotype were found: shortness in stature, obesity, rounded face, small hands and shortening of the third, the fourth and the fifth fingers in both hands and the third and the fourth toes in feet together with trophic disorders of nails and valgity of her knees. Somatic sings were accompanied by hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia, hyperphosphatasia, lower calcium and phosphate urinary excretion and three-fold increased PTH serum level. Computerised tomography of the brain showed extensive evidence of cerebral calcification in basal ganglia as well as in dura mater and in skin covering the skull. X-ray and densitometry examinations revealed osteolytic foci in cranial, humeral and forearm bones as well as osteoporosis in palm and feet bones. The patient presented a typical case of PHPT with resistance of the kidney to PTH, what was confirmed by lower calcium and phosphate urinary excretion, with normal bone receptor sensibility to PTH. Elevated PTH levels resulted in osteoporosis and foci of osteolysis. Treatment with calcium and active form of vitamin D3 caused reversal of hypocalcemia symptoms and normalisation of biochemical features. We also found hormonal symptoms of latent hypothyreosis. No coexistence of PTH with thyroid receptor resistance was found. The case was described because it is rare disorder, difficult to diagnose. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to limit the irreversible changes as well as bone and central nervous system injury.