The syndrome of hypoparathyroidism and steatorrhoea.

It is unusual for hypoparathyroidism and steatorrhoea to occur together. In steatorrhoea the plasma phosphorus is often low and the serum calcium either low or normal (Salvesen and Bee, 1953). Rarely there is marked elevation of the plasma phosphorus, denoting failure of parathyroid function, and symptoms of severe hypocalcaemia dominate the clinical picture. The cases illustrating this association were reviewed by Jackson (1957). Some of these showed additional abnormalities such as hepatitis and adrenal failure, but hypoparathyroidism and steatorrhoea were the only constant features and interest has largely centred on the aetiological relationship of the one to the other.