PEDIATRICS · 1962 · 16 citations · 0 references
MedicineEndocrinologyPediatricsBone MetabolismMineral MetabolismPediatric EndocrinologyParathyroid DisordersPhosphate HomeostasisVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyVitamin D DisordersVitamin D MetabolismCalcium Deficiency In ChildrenHypocalcemic TetanyParathyroid Disorders In InfancyParathyroid DysfunctionParathyroid Hormone ResponsePediatric Parathyroid DisordersPediatric Vitamin D DeficiencyVitamin D Insufficiency
Hypocalcemic tetany does not occur in South African Bantu infants with very gross bone changes of rickets. Rachitic children with hypocalcemic tetany have significantly lower phosphorus excretion indices than those with normal or moderately decreased calcium levels. Tetany appears to occur in a specific group of subjects with moderately severe bone changes, decreased phosphorus clearance, and relatively high plasma phosphorus levels. It is suggested that this group represents either failure of the compensatory parathyroid response or secondary "pseudo-hypoparathyroidism." Certain cases of idiopathic infantile tetany may be the result of premature failure of the compensatory parathyroid response to deficiency of vitamin D.