CHONDROCALCINOSIS IS A FEATURE OF GITELMANS VARIANT OF BARTTERS-SYNDROME - A NEW LOOK AT THE HYPOMAGNESEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE CRYSTAL DEPOSITION DISEASE

The occurrence of chondrocalcinosis in patients with Bartter's syndrom e has been reported as a typical example of hypomagnesemia-associated calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal (CPPD) deposition disease. How ever, hypomagnesemia is a feature of Gitelman's variant of Bartter's s yndrome, whereas serum magnesium levels are normal in Bartter's syndro me strictly speaking. We managed four patients with chondrocalcinosis and hypomagnesemia who met criteria for Gitelman's disease, including hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia with normal or high urinary potassium excr etion, hypocalciuria, and normal blood pressure. Based on our experien ce with these patients, we argue that many cases of chondrocalcinosis and hypomagnesemia ascribed in previously published articles to Bartte r's syndrome were due to Gitelman's syndrome.