ENGRACIO P. CORTES, M.D.
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To the editor: It is commonly known that pancreatitis is frequently associated with either hyperparathyroidism or disturbed calcium metabolism. Whether pancreatitis gives rise to either one, or vice versa, is not entirely clear. In the review of chronic pancreatitis by Strum and Spiro in the February issue (Ann Intern Med 74: 264-277, 1971), they cited the old well-known concept that "acute or chronic pancreatitis may depress the serum calcium by precipitation of calcium with fatty acids released by enzymatic hydrolysis of fats, thus lowering high values to deceptively normal." No evidence was ever shown whether such precipitation is extensive enough
CORTES EP. Pancreatitis and Calcium Metabolism. Ann Intern Med. 1971;74:1014. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-74-6-1014_1
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1971;74(6):1014.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-74-6-1014_1