Subject(s)
Hypercalcemia , Neoplasms , Osteitis Deformans , Osteoporosis , Urolithiasis , Animals , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Hypercalcemia/history , Hypercalcemia/metabolism , Neoplasms/history , Neoplasms/metabolism , Osteitis Deformans/history , Osteitis Deformans/metabolism , Osteoporosis/history , Osteoporosis/metabolism , Portraits as Topic , Urolithiasis/history , Urolithiasis/metabolismABSTRACT
Milk-alkali syndrome (MAS) consists of hypercalcemia, various degrees of renal failure, and metabolic alkalosis due to ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali. This syndrome was first identified after medical treatment of peptic ulcer disease with milk and alkali was widely adopted at the beginning of the 20th century. With the introduction of histamine2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, the occurrence of MAS became rare; however, a resurgence of MAS has been witnessed because of the wide availability and increasing use of calcium carbonate, mostly for osteoporosis prevention. The aim of this review was to determine the incidence, pathogenesis, histologic findings, diagnosis, and clinical course of MAS. A MEDLINE search was performed with the keyword milk-alkali syndrome using the PubMed search engine. All relevant English language articles were reviewed. The exact pathomechanism of MAS remains uncertain, but a unique interplay between hypercalcemia and alkalosis in the kidneys seems to lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, resulting in the clinical picture of MAS. Treatment is supportive and involves hydration and withdrawal of the offending agents. Physicians and the public need to be aware of the potential adverse effects of ingesting excessive amounts of calcium carbonate.
Subject(s)
Hypercalcemia/diagnosis , Hypercalcemia/physiopathology , Calcium/urine , History, 20th Century , Humans , Hypercalcemia/epidemiology , Hypercalcemia/history , Incidence , Kidney/pathology , Parathyroid Hormone/blood , Recovery of Function , Thiazides/adverse effectsABSTRACT
History of the Williams syndrome (WS) represents a process of detailed analysis of phenotypic markers and of attempts to reveal their origin. This demanding tasks have brought many valuable findings, which were employed in different fields of medicine, namely in cardiology, metabolism, genetics, psychology and cognitive neurosciences. Discovery of the genetic basis of the disease closed the first period of the syndrome analysis. Genetic studies have been proceeding and WS can be taken as a model syndrome for the behavioral genes identification. Similarly the description of the pathogenesis of vascular anomalles represents the key for understanding of the pathogenesis of other, more common vascular diseases. The article brings the review of the history of the WS.
