HYPERCALCEMIA AND RENAL INSUFFICIENCY DUE TO SARCOIDOSIS: TREATMENT WITH CORTISONE

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Abstract
Sarcoidosis was found in a 47 year-old-man as manifested by a diffuse pulmonary infiltrate, a granulomatous hepatic infiltrate, slight hyperglobulinemia, marked hypercalcemia. Renal insufficiency on the basis of nephrocalcinosis due to hypercalcemia caused low fixed specific gravity of the urine and an elevated blood urea N. Treatment with cortisone by mouth lowered the serum Ca level, and this effect was repeated on resumption of cortisone each of 3 times it was stopped. Continuous cortisone therapy maintained the serum Ca at normal levels for over a year and was followed by return of the blood urea N to normal and improvement in renal function tests. Cortisone is suggested for control of hypercalcemia due to any cause when other more specific treatment methods are lacking.