Hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia during treatment for acute leukaemia

Disturbed calcium metabolism can occur during treatment of acute leukaemia. The authors report findings of a reduction in calcium absorption after metronidazole 800 mg/day for 10 days concurrently with neomycin 1 g day for three days in 11 patients with contaminated small bowel syndrome. Neomycin may cause calcium malabsorption, the precise mechanism being obscure and perhaps related to depressed mucosal cell function. Metronidazole, has not been reported to affect calcium balance.