Pseudohypoparathyroidism: The Molecular Basis for Hormone Resistance — A Retrospective

Fuller Albright coined the term “pseudohypoparathyroidism” to describe hypoparathyroidism caused by target-organ resistance to the action of parathyroid hormone, as opposed to a simple deficiency of the hormone.¹ The resistance to parathyroid hormone in pseudohypoparathyroidism Type I is thought to be due to a defect in the hormone receptor-adenylate cyclase complex, since patients with this disorder do not have the brisk rise in urinary cyclic AMP excretion that normally follows administration of parathyroid hormone.² (Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type II is a much rarer disorder in which the urinary cyclic AMP response is normal but the phosphaturic response is defective.³) These were.