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A patient with severe hypercalcemia in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: Role of elevated circulating 1α,25(OH) 2 vitamin D levels
Author(s) -
Kazama Junichiro James,
Yamamoto Takashi,
Oya Hiroshi,
Yamamoto Satoshi,
Sato Yoshinobu,
Sakurada Junko,
Honda Tadayuki,
Endoh Hiroshi,
Narita Ichiei
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of bone and mineral research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.882
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1523-4681
pISSN - 0884-0431
DOI - 10.1002/jbmr.18
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple organ dysfunction syndrome , gastroenterology , vitamin d and neurology , parathyroid hormone , systemic inflammatory response syndrome , pancreatitis , kidney , acute kidney injury , intensive care , endocrinology , vitamin d deficiency , acute pancreatitis , calcium , sepsis , intensive care medicine
Abstract A 54‐year‐old man was transferred to our ICU because of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). He died after 38 days of intensive care. During treatment, his serum calcium (Ca) levels continued to increase and reached 3.95 mmol/L, while the ionized Ca levels reached 2.30 mmol/L before his death. He presented with severe kidney injury, pancreatitis, and hemorrhagic gastric erosion that worsened his prognosis; these were possibly associated with the hypercalcemia. His circulating 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D] level was elevated (75.7 to 204 pg/mL), whereas the levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and parathyroid hormone–related peptide were not. Liver histology revealed immunoreactivity for 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 1α‐hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in some of the hepatocytes, in which the localization pattern was similar to that of lysozyme‐positive hepatocytes. Our ICU has previously encountered 22 similar MODS patients who presented with hypercalcemia over the last 8 years. SIRS with severe kidney and liver injuries are common clinical findings in hypercalcemic patients with MODS. Of the 23 hypercalcemic MODS patients, including the present patient, 17 had circulating 1,25(OH) 2 D levels exceeding 70 pg/mL despite severe kidney injury. Extrarenal activation of CYP27B1 seems to play a role in the development of hypercalcemia in this disease condition. Clinicians need to be aware that severe hypercalcemia may occur in MODS patients. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research