Hypercalcemia after transplant nephrectomy in a hemodialysis patient: a case report.
J Med Case Rep
; 1: 164, 2007 Dec 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18053167
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Hypercalcemia is a complication often seen in chronic hemodialysis patients. A rare cause of this condition is sarcoidosis. Its highly variable clinical presentation is challenging. Especially in patients suffering chronic kidney graft failure the nonspecific constitutional symptoms of sarcoidosis like fever, weight loss, arthralgia and fatigue may be easily misleading. CASE PRESENTATION A 51 year old male developed hypercalcemia, arthralgia and B-symptoms after explantation of his kidney graft because of suspected acute rejection. The removed kidney showed vasculopathy and tubulointerstitial nephritis, which had not been overt in the biopsy taken half a year earlier. Despite explantation and withdrawal of the immunosuppression the patient's general condition deteriorated progressively. A rapid rise in serum calcium finally provoked us to check for sarcoidosis. CT scans of the lungs, broncho-alveolar-lavage and further lab tests confirmed the diagnosis.CONCLUSION:
This case demonstrates that withdrawal of immunosuppressive drugs sometimes unmasks sarcoidosis. It should be considered as differential diagnosis even in hemodialysis patients, in whom other reasons for hypercalcemia are much more common.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Med Case Rep
Year:
2007
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany