Hypercalcemia in active pulmonary tuberculosis.

We ascertained the incidence of hypercalcemia in 79 consecutive patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and a control group of 79 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Twenty-two patients developed hypercalcemia (serum calcium greater than 10.5 mg/dl) within 4 to 16 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy for tuberculosis.

Eight-day survival without adrenal steroids.

A patient with advanced breast cancer who had undergone a total bilateral adrenalectomy in the past refused adrenal steroid replacement therapy with the idea that this would be the easiest and quickest way to end her life. However, she continued to live for more than eight days. Survival under these circumstances is unusual, and the terminal course of her illness is described.

Calculi complicating a renal transplant.

Four months after a cadaver kidney transplant, kidney stones were found in the renal allograft. Three major predisposing causes of nephrolithiasis were found in the patient, including hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, and urinary tract infection. Hypercalcemia was corrected by parathyroidectomy.