[Parathyrotoxic encephalopathy without hypercalcemia]

Abstract

Two patients with severe, repeated confusional episodes of apparent fluctuating dementia type, and electroencephalographic alterations (permanent, diffuse slow waves) on recordings, were found to have elevated parathormonemia and slightly raised or normal levels of calcemia. The only other sign of hyperparathyroidism was intermittent hypophosphoremia. Exploratory cervicotomy identified a parathyroid microadenoma in one case and a parathyroid adenoma in the other. Recovery of intellectual functions was slow but complete. The possible direct role of parathormone in the genesis of this parathyrotoxic encephalopathy is discussed.