Reversible parkinsonism induced by hypercalcemia and primary hyperparathyroidism

C. S. Kovacs, D. C. Howse and E. R. Yendt
Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.

We describe a patient who had the recent onset of both primary hyperparathyroidism and parkinsonism. Surgical removal of a parathyroid adenoma was followed by spontaneous resolution of the parkinsonism. Hypoparathyroidism and other disorders of calcium metabolism are recognized causes of secondary parkinsonism, while hyperparathyroidism is not. We review the relevant literature, which supports the hypothesis that hypercalcemia may have induced cytotoxic changes in the basal ganglia of this patient.