Parathyroid hormone and calcium blood levels in acute renal failure. With special reference to one patient developing transient hypercalcemia.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), creatinine, calcium and phosphate blood levels were repeatedly measured in 5 patients with acute renal failure. 1 patient developed hypercalcemia during the recovery phase of the illness. PTH was elevated in all cases before starting hemodialysis treatment and returned to normal when renal function recovered. Calcium and PTH were inversely correlated in 3 patients including the patient with transient hypercalcemia. These data show that parathyroid function in acute renal failure is closely related to changes in renal function and the hypercalcemia, when occurring, is not necessarily due to parathyroid hyperactivity.