Acute Kidney Injury, Hypercalcemia, and Osteolytic Lesions: A Familiar Triad With a Rare Cause Complicated by Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

The Association of Calcium Derangements With 24-Hour Outcomes in the Deployed Combat Setting

INTRODUCTION

Calcium derangements remain poorly characterized in the combat trauma population. We describe the incidence of emergency department (ED) calcium derangements, associated physiologic derangements, and 24-hour mortality from the deployed combat setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed adult casualties from 2007 to 2023 from the DoD Trauma Registry for U.S. military, U.S. contractor, and coalition casualties that had at least 1 ionized calcium value documented in the ED at a Role 2 or Role 3 military treatment facility. We constructed a series of multivariable logistic regression models to test for the association of hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia with physiological derangements, blood product consumption, and survival. Vital signs and other laboratory studies were based on the concurrent ED encounter.

RESULTS

There were 941 casualties that met inclusion for this analysis with 26% (245) having at least 1 calcium derangement. Among those, 22% (211) had at least 1 episode of hypocalcemia and 5% (43) had at least 1 episode of hypercalcemia in the ED. The vast majority (97%, 917) received calcium at least once. Median composite injury severity scores were lower among those with no calcium derangement (8 versus 17, P < .001). Survival was higher during the total hospitalization (98% versus 93%) among those with calcium derangements but similar at 24 hours (99% versus 98%, P = .059). After adjusting for confounder, any hypocalcemic measurement was associated with an elevated international normalized ratio (odds ratio 1.94, 95% CI 1.19-3.16), acidosis (1.66, 1.17-2.37), tachycardia (2.11, 1.42-3.15), hypotension (1.92, 1.09-3.38), depressed Glasgow coma scale (3.20, 2.13-4.81), elevated shock index (2.19, 1.45-3.31), submassive transfusion (3.97, 2.60-6.05), massive transfusion (4.22, 2.66-6.70), supermassive transfusion (3.65, 2.07-6.43), and all hospital stay mortality (2.30, 1.00-5.29). Comparatively, any hypercalcemic measurement was associated with acidosis (2.96, 1.39-6.32), depressed Glasgow coma scale (4.28, 1.81-10.13), submassive transfusion (3.40, 1.37-8.43), massive transfusion (6.25, 2.63-14.83), and supermassive transfusion (13.00, 5.47-30.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Both hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia in the ED were associated with physiological derangements and blood product use, with a greater extent observed in those with hypocalcemia compared to those with hypercalcemia. Prospective studies are underway to better explain and validate these findings.

Massive cerebral tuberculomas, Pott's disease and hypercalcaemia secondary to Mycobacterium bovis in a patient with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a health problem in developing countries. Pulmonary involvement remains the most common clinical presentation. However, multiorgan involvement can be life-threatening. We present the case of a young woman on peritoneal dialysis who was admitted to hospitalisation for hypercalcaemia and low back pain. In his biochemical evaluation, suppressed intact parthyroid hormone (iPTH) and elevated 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D were detected. On a lumbar CT scan, a hypodense lesion in vertebral bodies compatible with Pott's disease was found. Positive cultures for Mycobacterium bovis were obtained in bronchoalveolar lavage and peritoneal fluid, for which specific treatment was initiated. Due to neurological deterioration, a CT scan was performed showing the presence of multiple tuberculomas. Retrospectively, the lack of an etiological diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, the initiation of dialysis 8 months before and the clear evidence of long-standing TB strongly suggest mycobacterium infection as the cause or trigger for the rapid decline in kidney function.

Hypercalcemia in Cancer: Causes, Effects, and Treatment Strategies

Calcium plays central roles in numerous biological processes, thereby, its levels in the blood are under strict control to maintain homeostatic balance and enable the proper functioning of living organisms. The regulatory mechanisms ensuring this balance can be affected by pathologies such as cancer, and as a result, hyper- or hypocalcemia can occur. These states, characterized by elevated or decreased calcium blood levels, respectively, have a significant effect on general homeostasis. This article focuses on a particular form of calcium metabolism disorder, which is hypercalcemia in neoplasms. It also constitutes a summary of the current knowledge regarding the diagnosis of hypercalcemia and its management. Hypercalcemia of malignancy is estimated to affect over 40% of cancer patients and can be associated with both solid and blood cancers. Elevated calcium levels can be an indicator of developing cancer. The main mechanism of hypercalcemia development in tumors appears to be excessive production of parathyroid hormone-related peptides. Among the known treatment methods, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, steroids, and denosumab should be mentioned, but ongoing research promotes progress in pharmacotherapy. Given the rising global cancer prevalence, the problem of hypercalcemia is of high importance and requires attention.

Development of a nomogram to predict the incidence of acute kidney injury among ischemic stroke individuals during ICU hospitalization

Background

Limited clinical prediction models exist to assess the likelihood of acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence in ischemic stroke individuals. In this retrospective study, our aim was to construct a nomogram that utilizes commonly available clinical features to predict the occurrence of AKI during intensive care unit hospitalization among this patient population.

Methods

In this study, the MIMIC-IV database was utilized to investigate potential risk factors associated with the incidence of AKI among ischemic stroke individuals. A predictive nomogram was developed based on these identified risk factors. The discriminative performance of the constructed nomogram was assessed. Calibration analysis was utilized to evaluate the calibration performance of the constructed model, assessing the agreement between predicted probabilities and actual outcomes. Furthermore, decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to assess the clinical net benefit, taking into account the potential risks and benefits associated with different decision thresholds.

Results

A total of 2089 ischemic stroke individuals were included and randomly allocated into developing (n = 1452) and verification cohorts (n = 637). Risk factors for AKI incidence in ischemic stroke individuals, determined through LASSO and logistic regression. The constructed nomogram had good performance in predicting the occurrence of AKI among ischemic stroke patients and provided significant improvement compared to existing scoring systems. DCA demonstrated satisfactory clinical net benefit of the constructed nomogram in both the validation and development cohorts.

Conclusions

The developed nomogram exhibits robust predictive performance in forecasting AKI occurrence in ischemic stroke individuals.

Hypercalcemic Crisis: A Rare Presentation of Ewing's Sarcoma

Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is a rare malignancy of adolescence that usually presents with clinically apparent disease involving long bones, brought to attention by trauma and/or fractures. Hypercalcemia of malignancy is a well-known phenomenon; however, hypercalcemia is exceptionally rare in ES. This case report discusses a 20-year-old lady who experienced chronic bone pains in her hip and lower limbs, ultimately leading to a hypercalcemic crisis. We emphasize the importance of considering ES as a potential cause of hypercalcemia, highlighting the mechanism, diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, the associated poor prognosis, and the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach to managing the condition.

Molecular hydrogen: prospective treatment strategy of kidney damage after cardiac surgery

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury is a common post-operative complication, mostly due to increasing oxidative stress. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2 gas) has also been applied to cardiac surgery due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress. We evaluated the potential effect of H2 application on the kidney in an in vivo model of simulated heart transplantation. Pigs underwent cardiac surgery within 3 h while connected to extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and subsequent 60 min of spontaneous reperfusion of the heart. We used two experimental groups: T-pigs after transplantation and TH-pigs after transplantation treated with 4% H2 mixed with air during inhalation of anesthesia and throughout oxygenation of blood in ECC. The levels of creatinine, urea and phosphorus were measured in plasma. Renal tissue samples were analyzed by Western blot method for protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1), and superoxide dismutase (SOD1). After cardiac surgery, selected plasma biomarkers were elevated. However, H2 therapy was followed by the normalization of all these parameters. Our results suggest activation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway as well as increased SOD1 protein expression in the group treated with H2. The administration of H2 had a protective effect on the kidneys of pigs after cardiac surgery, especially in terms of normalization of plasma biomarkers to control levels.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome secondary to malignancy-associated hypercalcemia: A case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a reversible clinical syndrome usually characterized by a range of neurological manifestations and distinctive neuroimaging findings reflecting vasogenic edema. PRES has been described in the context of various clinical settings including: renal failure, blood pressure fluctuations, use of cytotoxic drugs, autoimmune disorders and eclampsia. Hypercalcemia is rarely associated with PRES. We report a patient with lung cancer presenting as PRES secondary to hypercalcemia.

Giant Parathyroid Adenoma: A Case Report

Parathyroid adenomas rarely weigh more than 4 grams. Our patient had a 5.3-gram adenoma causing bilateral knee pain limiting mobility, constipation, low back pain, and frontal headache. Presenting with calcium of greater than 17 mg/dl, the patient was treated with two rounds of hemodialysis, calcitonin, Zoledronate, and aggressive IV hydration to decrease calcium levels before parathyroidectomy. The patient then went on to develop the hungry bone syndrome, which was treated with calcium carbonate and calcitriol. This rare giant parathyroid adenoma presents a unique opportunity to learn about the pathogenesis and treatment of longstanding hyperparathyroidism causing hypercalcemia-associated symptoms and hungry bone syndrome after parathyroidectomy.

Multiple Myeloma Uncovered Under Excessive Antacid and Chronic NSAID Use in a Young Female

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell dyscrasia in which nearly all cases are diagnosed in patients over 40 years old. This report illustrates a case of a young female who presented with severe generalized weakness, acute kidney injury, hypercalcemia, and anemia. Her symptoms were initially attributed to chronic NSAID and antacid intake, especially given her young age. However, further workup was pursued to rule out other potential diagnoses despite her age. She was ultimately diagnosed with multiple myeloma and started on bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone. This report emphasizes the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis. Untrained physicians can easily overlook rare cases. Timely diagnosis and treatment are key, and therefore, a high degree of suspicion is crucial for this patient population.

Disorders of Divalent Ions (Magnesium, Calcium, and Phosphorous) in Patients With Cancer

Disorders of the divalent ions (magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous) are frequently encountered in patients with cancer. Of these, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, and hypophosphatemia are seen most commonly. These electrolyte disturbances may be related to the underlying malignancy or due to side effects of anticancer therapy. When caused by a paraneoplastic process, these abnormalities may portend a poor prognosis. Importantly, the development of severe electrolyte derangements may be associated with symptoms that negatively impact quality of life, preclude the administration of critical chemotherapeutic agents, or lead to life-threatening complications that require hospitalization and emergent treatment. In accordance, prompt recognition and treatment of these disorders is key to improving outcomes in patients living with cancer. This review will discuss selected derangements of the divalent ions seen in this population, with a focus on paraneoplastic and therapy-associated etiologies.