Congestive heart failure complicating the hungry bone syndrome

: A patient with the hungry bone syndrome following parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism developed congestive heart failure, probably due to the myocardial depressant effects of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesmia. Calcium and magnesium alone were instrumental in relieving his symptoms, decreasing his heart size, and clearing the pulmonary congestion. A mechanism for the pathogenesis of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia induced heart failure is proposed.