Pancreatitis secondary to hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that magnesium can be used to reduce serum calcium levels seen with hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy, thus reducing maternal and fetal risk. CASE: A young woman presented at 32 weeks' gestation with abdominal pain from pancreatitis caused by hyperparathyroidism. from a parathyroid adenoma. She was started on magnesium sulfate tocolysis for preterm labor. During treatment, serum parathyroid hormone was undetectable, but serum calcium and vitamin D-1,25 were elevated. When magnesium was discontinued, her vitamin. D-1,25 was suppressed and the parathyroid hormone was elevated. CONCLUSION: For some patients, because of persistent hypercalcemia, magnesium sulfate might not be a viable treatment option for hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. (Obstet Gynecol 2001;98:923-5. (C) 2001 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.).