Pseudogout attacks after successful treatment of hyperparathyroidism.

Two patients developed pseudogout attacks during treatment for hyperparathyroidism, the first shortly after surgery and the second during medical treatment of her hypercalcaemia. From our observations in these patients and from data in the literature, we conclude that pseudogout attacks following parathyroidectomy in patients with chondrocalcinosis are caused by the decrease in the serum calcium levels and not by the major surgical procedure itself.