REMISSION OF HYPERCALCIURIA IN PATIENTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS AFTER TREATMENT

The hypercalciuria evolution and other bone metabolism parameters were evaluated in patients with tuberculosis after treatment. Twenty-two p atients with tuberculosis and 54 normal subjects were studied; they co nsumed an average diet (calcium intake 1000 mg/day). Ten of these pati ents and nine normal subjects were also studied after a low calcium di et (400 mg/calcium/day) and after a load of oral calcium of 1000 mg (c alcium absorption test). The study with an average diet was performed after 1 week (basal) and 3, 6, and 12 months after the antituberculosi s treatment was started; the calcium absorption test was carried out 2 weeks, 3 and 12 months after the treatment was started. On an average diet, patients with tuberculosis presented, at baseline state, lower calcidiol levels than normal controls. Serum calcitriol levels at base line were higher than at 6 and 12 months. Serum parathyroid hormone (P TH) levels in patients with tuberculosis were lower than in normal con trols at baseline, but these levels were similar to controls at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. During the calcium absorption test and under basal conditions, patients with tuberculosis showed lower serum PTH and calcidiol levels in all the dietetic situations than in normal controls. However, serum calcitriol levels were higher than in contro ls after the restrictive diet. After 3 months of treatment, urinary ca lcium excretion was normal in patients with tuberculosis during the av erage and low diets, but higher than in control group after calcium lo ad. After 12 months of treatment, all the biochemical parameters of th e patients with tuberculosis were similar to the control group under a ll the dietetic situations. These data indicate that antituberculous t reatment, although it may contribute to the production of same alterat ion in the calcium and vitamin D metabolism, basically favors the corr ection of disturbances associated with tuberculosis.