RESUMEN
Hypercalcemia is a rare condition in childhood; the most common causes are primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, prolonged immobilisation, thyrotoxicosis, thiazide diuretic, supplements containing calcium, milk-alkali syndrome, vitamin D intoxication, infections and idiopathic. We present three cases of severe hypercalcemia of unusual causes in children. The first patient had high fever, poor general condition, weight loss and myalgia. Extensive preliminary investigation did not define the etiology, but a review of medical history revealed prolonged contact with pet bird and a positive serology for Chlamydia confirmed the diagnosis of psittacosis. The second patient had generalized lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly with fever a month ago. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was identified in myelogram; the patient showed partial improvement with the use of co-trimoxazole, with subsequent emergence of multiple osteolytic lesions. A smear of gastric lavage was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the patient was treated with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide, with improvement of clinical condition. The third patient was treated by hypercalciuria and idiopathic hypomagnesiuria with daily use of cholecalciferol; the patient had a two quilograms of weight loss in the past two months. No cause of hypercalcemia could be detected in laboratory workout. The capsules of cholecalciferol were analyzed and presented an amount of 832,000 IU of vitamin D per capsule. Acute hypercalcemia in childhood may be due to exogenous vitamin D intoxication, as well as infectious causes. The possible causal relationship between psittacosis and occurrence of hypercalcemia alert to the need for detailed investigation of the epidemiological antecedents.
Asunto(s)
Hipercalcemia/diagnóstico , Niño , Humanos , Hipercalcemia/etiología , Hipercalcemia/terapia , Masculino , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
Abstract Hypercalcemia is a rare condition in childhood; the most common causes are primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, prolonged immobilisation, thyrotoxicosis, thiazide diuretic, supplements containing calcium, milk-alkali syndrome, vitamin D intoxication, infections and idiopathic. We present three cases of severe hypercalcemia of unusual causes in children. The first patient had high fever, poor general condition, weight loss and myalgia. Extensive preliminary investigation did not define the etiology, but a review of medical history revealed prolonged contact with pet bird and a positive serology for Chlamydia confirmed the diagnosis of psittacosis. The second patient had generalized lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly with fever a month ago. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was identified in myelogram; the patient showed partial improvement with the use of co-trimoxazole, with subsequent emergence of multiple osteolytic lesions. A smear of gastric lavage was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the patient was treated with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide, with improvement of clinical condition. The third patient was treated by hypercalciuria and idiopathic hypomagnesiuria with daily use of cholecalciferol; the patient had a two quilograms of weight loss in the past two months. No cause of hypercalcemia could be detected in laboratory workout. The capsules of cholecalciferol were analyzed and presented an amount of 832,000 IU of vitamin D per capsule. Acute hypercalcemia in childhood may be due to exogenous vitamin D intoxication, as well as infectious causes. The possible causal relationship between psittacosis and occurrence of hypercalcemia alert to the need for detailed investigation of the epidemiological antecedents.
Resumo A hipercalcemia é uma condição pouco comum na infância; dentre as causas mais comuns destacam-se hiperparatireoidismo primário, neoplasia, imobilização prolongada, tireotoxicose, diurético tiazídico, suplementos contendo cálcio, síndrome leite-álcali, intoxicação por vitamina D, infecções e causa idiopática. Apresentamos três casos de hipercalcemia grave por causas incomuns em crianças. O primeiro paciente tinha história de febre alta acompanhada de queda do estado geral, emagrecimento e mialgia. Extensa investigação preliminar não definiu a etiologia, porém uma revisão da história clínica revelou contato prolongado com ave de estimação e uma sorologia positiva para clamídia confirmou o diagnóstico de psitacose. O segundo paciente apresentava adenomegalia generalizada e hepatoesplenomegalia acompanhadas de febre por um mês, tendo sido identificado Paracoccidioides brasiliensis no mielograma; o paciente apresentou melhora parcial com uso de sulfametoxazol+trimetoprima, com posterior surgimento de múltiplas lesões osteolíticas. Uma baciloscopia do lavado gástrico foi positiva para Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tratado com rifampicina, isoniazida, pirazinamida e etambutol, com boa evolução. O terceiro paciente já era acompanhado por hipercalciúria e hipomagnesiúria idiopáticas e fazia uso diário de colecalciferol; perdeu dois quilogramas nos últimos dois meses. Nenhuma causa de hipercalcemia pôde ser detectada nos exames laboratoriais. As cápsulas de colecalciferol foram analisadas e encontrou-se uma quantidade de 832.000 UI de vitamina D. A hipercalcemia aguda na infância pode ser decorrente de intoxicação exógena por vitamina D, bem como de causas infecciosas. A possível relação causal entre psitacose e ocorrência da hipercalcemia alerta para a necessidade de investigação detalhada dos antecedentes epidemiológicos.