Aminohydroxypropylidene diphosphonate treatment of hypercalcemic crisis due to primary hyperparathyroidism.

A 43 year old man was known to have had mild primary hyperparathyroidism for several years. Nine days following surgery for acute cholecystitis he developed a hypercalcemic crisis with a plasma calcium level of 4.23 mmol/l, despite intravenous and oral hydration. The hypercalcemia was corrected by a single intravenous dose of (3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene)-1,1-diphosphonate (15 mg), allowing parathyroidectomy to be performed electively and on a well patient.