Open AccessRefractory Hypercalcemia in a Jamaican Woman
Author(s) -
Amaris Balitsky MSc,
Jonathan So,
MSc Carolyn Chessex
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
canadian journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2369-1778
pISSN - 1911-1606
DOI - 10.22374/cjgim.v11i1.119
Subject(s) - medicine , refractory (planetary science) , differential diagnosis , malignancy , methotrexate , gastroenterology , hyperparathyroidism , lymphoma , pathology , physics , astrobiology
The two common differential diagnoses for hypercalcemia are malignancy and hyperparathyroidism. In this case of a young woman with hypercalcemia refractory to bisphosphonate treatment, Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone releasing peptide (PTHrP) levels were normal. She was found to be positive for HTLV-1 and later diagnosed with Adult T-cell leukaemia/ lymphoma, with CNS involvement. After treatment with R-CHOP therapy with intrathecal methotrexate, her symptoms improved and her calcium returned to normal. The differential diagnosis and treatment of hypercalcemia is further discussed.