Hypoparathyroidism and the DiGeorge Syndrome

To the Editor: Gidding et al. (Dec. 15 issue) documented the use of disodium edetate to uncover latent hypoparathyroidism in a patient with partial DiGeorge anomaly.¹ Although it appears that this technique will be a useful adjunct in the investigation of the DiGeorge anomaly, several issues deserve further discussion. Lammer and Opitz recently reviewed the heterogeneity of the DiGeorge anomaly.² The term “DiGeorge anomaly” is preferable to “DiGeorge syndrome,” since the third and fourth pharyngeal pouch or brachial-arch defects can arise from multiple causes, including chromosomal abnormalities, single-gene defects (autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive), and exposure to teratogens (alcohol or.