PARATHYROIDECTOMY FOR ANKYLOSING POLYARTHRITIS
- 1 December 1929
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Annals of Surgery
- Vol. 90 (6) , 978-981
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-192912000-00003
Abstract
In polyarthritis increased blood Ca and decreased electro-excitability are found[long dash]conditions directly opposite to those of tetany. If tetany is an expression of hypo-function of the parathyroids, it seems logical to regard polyarthritis as probably caused by their hyperfunc-tion, and to remove a part of the parathyroid substance to cure the condition. Such an operation was performed on 55 patients; in 33 cases the excised tissue was microscopically examined and in 21 the parathyroid bodies (extremely difficult to identify) were found; in 30 blood investigations the Ca was found reduced in 27, in some to 1/3 the preoperation level. Oppel believes the chemical findings confirm the microscopic suggestion that in some cases operation failed to remove the parathyroid. Out of 49 cases summarized, clinical improvement was noted in 33 and no improvement in 16. Considering that ankyloses already formed can not be affected by parathyroidectomy, Oppel considers the results very good.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: