US EPA

9924572 

Journal Article 

Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia: the role of calcitonin, parathormone and serum albumin 

Cakmakli, S; Cavusoglu, T; Bumin, C; Torun, N 

1996 

1 

Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
ISSN: 0385-0005 

21 

2 

97-101 

English 

9239811 

To investigate the pathogenesis of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia calcium, phosphate, calcitonin, parathormone, albumin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels were monitored during operation and postoperatively in 25 female patients undergoing bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for non-toxic nodular goiter. A highly significant fall in uncorrected serum calcium and albumin levels started with the completion of lobectomies and a significant correlation between the course of serum calcium and albumin levels were seen, an early peak in calcitonin corresponded well with the a drop in corrected calcium and inorganic phosphate levels. An overt parathyroid response to hypocalcemia was not observed. We conclude, on the basis of the postoperative hypoalbuminemia, that a calcitonin leak triggered the early onset of hypocalcemia while an insufficient parathyroid response contributed to the post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia.