SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND ARTICULAR CHONDROCALCINOSIS IN THE ELDERLY

The incidence of articular chondrocalcinosis (ACC) in elderly patients hospitalised in geriatric departments is approximately 30 %. Routine studies including a 2 hour calcium/phosphorus balance, parathormone assay and radiological investigations enabled the selection of 73 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. ACC was present in 38 of these individuals (52 %). They were slightly older (87 +/- 5) than cases of secondary hyperparathyroidism without radiological ACC (84 +/- 8). Among patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism with ACC, there were 90 % women and 10 % men, while the sex ratio in the department was 77 % women and 23 % men. Results of calcium/phosphorus balance and parathormone levels were similar, in the presence or absence of ACC.