Enhanced release of ammonia and hypoxanthine from exercising muscles in patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism.

Semiischemic forearm exercise tests were carried out in two patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who had muscle cramps and high serum levels of creatine kinase. Although cubital venous lactate levels increased normally after forearm exercise, venous ammonia and hypoxanthine were greatly increased. The abnormal responses of ammonia and hypoxanthine were normalized 3 months after treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3. These findings suggest that excess purine degradation occurred in exercising muscles of patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism.