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Mechanism of Adrenal-Steroid Reversal of Hypercalcemia in Multiple Myeloma

List of authors.
  • Michael Z. Lazor, M.D.†,
  • Leon E. Rosenberg, M.D.‡,
  • and Mrs. Alnora Granger

HYPERCALCEMIA is a frequent complication in multiple myeloma, occurring in 70 per cent of 72 cases reviewed by Gutman et al.1 It is well established that carbohydrate-active adrenocorticosteroid hormones are effective in reversing the hypercalcemia seen in multiple myeloma, but the mechanism of steroid action in this situation is not known. We have studied a patient with multiple myeloma who provided a unique opportunity to investigate several aspects of calcium metabolism before, during and after the spontaneous appearance of hypercalcemia. Baseline studies were done while the patient was normocalcemic. As shown in Figure 1, the patient became hypercalcemic while on the . . .

Funding and Disclosures

* From the Radiation Branch and Metabolism Service, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.

§ Quotation marks are used because it is not convincing that "bone-formation rate" and "bone-resorption rate" alone are being measured.

We are indebted to Miss Elaine Gaddis, Mrs. Lillian Fisher and Mrs. Eileen Jones and their respective staffs on the Metabolic Unit of the National Cancer Institute for invaluable assistance during the performance of these studies.

Author Affiliations

BETHESDA, MARYLAND

† Member, Department of Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut; formerly, clinical associate, Radiation Branch, National Cancer Institute.

‡ Senior investigator, Metabolism Service, National Cancer Institute.

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