OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP).

METHODSThe clinical data of 15 patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism (including 9 male and 6 female patients) admitted in our hospital between January, 1990 and July, 2011 were reviewed.

RESULTSThe disease course of the patients ranged from 3 days to 21 years, and such symptoms of tetany and fatigue were found in all the patients. Most of the patients had a history of seizures. Laboratory tests suggested commonly low serum calcium, hyperphosphatemia, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) elevation. Head CT indicated multiple intracranial calcifications in 9 cases, and abnormal thyroid function was found in 4 cases. No specific treatment was available for this disease, and life-long calcium and vitamin D supplementation was advised to prevent acute attacks and disease progression.

CONCLUSIONPHP is a rare genetic disease with a high rate of misdiagnosis in initial diagnosis. For repeated tetany and epileptic attacks and children with congenital developmental defects, examinations of blood calcium, phosphorus, and PTH and brain CT should be ordered as soon as possible. Long-term calcium and vitamin D supplementation is suggested for the treatment, and the presence of concomitant thyroid dysfunction or hypogonadism necessitates corresponding treatments.