Hypercalcemia in children and adolescents

Hypercalcemia in children induced by denosumab: a case report and an analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system database

BACKGROUND

The potential risks of denosumab on pediatric patients have raised concerns about its safety. This article aims to analyze the adverse effects of denosumab in minors, with a specific focus on hypercalcemia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A case study involving a child was analyzed. The OpenVigil 2.1 was utilized to extract adverse event data from the FAERS database, focusing on denosumab as the primary suspect drug in pediatric patients. The study also reviewed published cases of children developing hypercalcemia after discontinuing denosumab.

RESULTS

The incidence of denosumab induced hypercalcemia in individuals under 18 years old is significantly higher than the overall incidence. The signal value for hypercalcemia was higher in the male group and was highest in the adolescent group. Hypercalcemia usually appeared approximately 4 months after denosumab discontinuation. Males had a higher peak blood calcium level. Patients aged 0-11 years had a higher average peak serum calcium compared to aged 12-17 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the risk of hypercalcemia after discontinuation of denosumab in minors, with young age and male gender identified as potential high-risk factors. These findings offer valuable safety warnings and preventative measures for the secure administration of this drug in pediatric populations.

Effect of Adopting a Timothy Hay-based Diet at Weaning or in Adulthood on Urinary Tract Parameters in Strain 13/N Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Type of feed is an important consideration in herbivore colony management, yet limited studies report on the effects of diet on common conditions such as urolithiasis in guinea pigs. Urolithiasis is a well-documented cause of lower urinary tract disease in guinea pigs, with calcium carbonate uroliths reported as the predominant calculi formed in the guinea pig urinary tract. A calcium-rich diet has been suggested as a risk factor for of urolithiasis, with numerous commercially available guinea pig diets formulated for adults avoiding ingredients that are higher in calcium. Due to the high incidence of urolithiasis in our strain 13/N guinea pig colony, we conducted a prospective control study following the implementation of dietary changes aimed at improving overall urinary tract health and reducing risk factors for urolithiasis, thus improving colony welfare. A control group was kept on the original ad libitum alfalfa hay-based pellet diet with restricted loose timothy hay (control diet, 14 juveniles and 24 adults). An experimental group was placed on a portioned, 1 oz daily, timothy hay-based pellet diet with ad libitum loose timothy hay (experimental diet, 21 juveniles and 23 adults). Juveniles and adults were followed for a total of 14 and 26 wk, respectively. Longitudinal blood and urine samples were collected to evaluate blood chemistry and urinary parameters, along with weight and body condition scores to assess general health. Overall, dietary changes did not improve parameters associated with improved urinary tract health or reduced risk of urolithiasis; feeding strategy was not found to meaningfully affect calcium crystalluria, urine protein, urine specific gravity, or renal values. These data support alfalfa hay-based pellet or timothy hay-based pellet, when fed with loose timothy hay, as viable options and suggest that practices aimed at reducing dietary calcium by reducing pelleted diet portions are insufficient to mitigate risk factors for urolithiasis in guinea pigs.

An infant developing hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia due to the use of exclusively almond milk

OBJECTIVES

Plant-based milk alternatives are increasingly utilized in children with cow milk allergy, lactose intolerance, and personal preference. However, notable differences exist in mineral content between cow milk and plant-based alternatives. Almond milk, in particular, varies in mineral and caloric content across different brands. This case report highlights a toddler who developed hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia attributed to almond milk consumption.

CASE PRESENTATION

A fourteen-month-old girl with a history of biliary atresia underwent liver transplant at seven months of age. She was exclusively consuming almond milk for two months prior to presentation. She was admitted to the hospital for severe hypercalcemia (14.6 mg/dL) and hypophosphatemia (1.6 mg/dL). She had elevated random urine calcium to creatinine ratio (2.56 mg/g) and low urine phosphorus to creatinine ratio (<0.44 mg/g) were noted. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was appropriately suppressed (<6 pg/mL), while 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D level was slightly elevated at 88 pg/mL. Initial management included intravenous fluids, followed by a switch to a formula with higher phosphorus and lower calcium concentrations. The patient was discharged after six days with normalized calcium and phosphorus levels, which remained within the normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

Although plant-derived milk serves as a viable alternative to cow milk, careful consideration of mineral content, particularly in infants and toddlers, is imperative. Sole reliance on almond milk for nutritional needs in this population is not recommended. Caregivers should be informed about the potential risks associated with almond milk consumption in infants and toddlers.

Atypical parathyroid adenoma with severe bone manifestations in early adolescence

This is a case of primary hyperparathyroidism in a female teenager with multiple fractures and severe bone manifestations. The histopathology revealed atypical parathyroid adenoma, an exceedingly rare form of hyperparathyroidism; its main differential diagnosis is parathyroid carcinoma, as it shares both clinical and histological characteristics with it, in addition to its still uncertain malignant potential.

Hypercalcemia in an Infant with Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 2: A Novel Association

Hypercalcemia in infants presents with a variety of clinical features and the etiology of hypercalcemia varies with age. Here we present a case of hypercalcemia in an infant presenting with nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis. Our investigations led us to a diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria (PH) type 2, a rare metabolic disorder, along with hypercalcemia, a never before reported association. A 9-month-old female presented with urinary tract infection and systemic features requiring hospitalization and parenteral antibiotics. Investigations revealed bilateral medullary nephrocalcinosis. Genetic testing revealed a diagnosis of Primary hyperoxaluria type 2 with two possible mutations. Sanger sequencing of the parents identified the pathogenic mutation in the mother. This is the first report of a genetically proven case of primary hyperoxaluria type 2 associated with hypercalcemia.

A Giant Parathyroid Adenoma Presenting as Nausea, Vomiting, and Headaches in an Adolescent Male

Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in the pediatric population and is typically caused by a single parathyroid adenoma. Parathyroid adenomas are almost always small and not palpable on exam but can be evaluated by neck ultrasonography or 99 m Tc-sestamibi scan. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment. In this case, a 16-year-old male presents with a 10-day history of nausea, vomiting, and headaches and is found to have a highly elevated calcium and parathyroid hormone level and a cerebral calcification in his frontal lobe noted on computed tomography. He had a palpable mass over the region of his left inferior parathyroid gland which was surgically resected with histopathology revealing a giant parathyroid adenoma. Giant parathyroid adenomas are exceptionally rare in children and adolescents and are more likely to present with severe hypercalcemic crisis than smaller adenomas. As early symptoms are often nonspecific, awareness of this clinical entity is important. There are several reports of basal ganglia calcifications in the setting of parathyroid adenoma, but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with frontal lobe calcification.

Osteoarticular manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: a literature review

Osteoarticular manifestations such as arthritis and bone pain are scarce among adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We present a systematic review of osteoarticular first clinical manifestation related to ALL in adults, and we report a case of an adult patient with a B-cell ALL revealed by refractory pygalgia and arthritis. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline using the MEDLINE database, including case reports and case series describing osteoarticular manifestations revealing ALL in adults. There were 29 patients with osteoarticular manifestations, revealing ALL (including our case). The mean age was 34.00 ± 13.29 years. Osteoarticular manifestations were peripheral articular signs (7 cases), axial manifestations (17 cases), and osteolytic lesions (21 cases). Vertebral fractures were reported in 4 cases. MRI was performed in 15 cases, showing heterogeneous signal changes in the vertebra, skull, and sacroiliac bones. It showed avascular necrosis of the femoral head in one case. PET scan, performed in 7 cases, showed diffuse or localized FDG uptakes in the bone marrow. Hypercalcemia was noted in 9 cases. The treatment was based on chemotherapy (23 patients) and radiotherapy (4 cases). During the follow-up, remission was noted in 14 cases, death in 9 cases, and was not available in 6 patients. Our review showed that axial manifestations, joint swelling, bone pain, and hypercalcemia could be the first and only symptoms of ALL in adults, making the diagnosis of ALL difficult to recognize, leading to a diagnosis delay. Key Points • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults revealed by osteoarticular manifestations can be misdiagnosed as rheumatic diseases. • Axial manifestations, joint swelling, bone pain, and hypercalcemia could be the first and only symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. • Complete blood count and calcium blood test should be performed as first-line investigations in adults with axial or peripheral articular symptoms. • Physicians should be aware of this clinical presentation to avoid diagnosis delay and improve prognosis.

Endocrine sequelae of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Effects on mineral homeostasis and bone metabolism

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an established therapeutic strategy for the treatment of malignant (leukemia and lymphoma) and non-malignant (thalassemia, anemia, and immunodeficiency) hematopoietic diseases. Thanks to the improvement in patient care and the development of more tolerable conditioning treatments, which has extended the applicability of therapy to the elderly, a growing number of patients have successfully benefited from HSCT therapy and, more importantly, HSCT transplant-related mortality has consistently reduced in recent years. However, concomitantly to long term patient survival, a growing incidence of late HSCT-related sequelae has been reported, being variably associated with negative effects on quality of life of patients and having a non-negligible impact on healthcare systems. The most predominantly observed HSCT-caused complications are chronic alterations of the endocrine system and metabolism, which endanger post-operative quality of life and increase morbidity and mortality of transplanted patients. Here, we specifically review the current knowledge on HSCT-derived side-effects on the perturbation of mineral metabolism; in particular, the homeostasis of calcium, focusing on current reports regarding osteoporosis and recurrent renal dysfunctions that have been observed in a percentage of HSC-transplanted patients. Possible secondary implications of conditioning treatments for HSCT on the physiology of the parathyroid glands and calcium homeostasis, alone or in association with HSCT-caused renal and bone defects, are critically discussed as well.

Magnesium Status and Ca/Mg Ratios in a Series of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Diseases

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential divalent cation involved in various enzymatic reactions that regulate vital biological functions. The main goal was to evaluate Mg status and its association with nutritional indicators in 78 children and adolescents with chronic diseases. We assessed anthropometric, biochemical, diet, body composition, and bone densitometry valuations. Serum Mg and Ca levels were determined using the standardized method and diet calcium (Ca) and Mg consumption by a prospective 72 h diet survey. Mean serum Ca (9.9 mg/dL), Mg (2.08 mg/dL) dietary Ca (102% DRI: Dietary Reference Intake), and Mg intake (105% DRI) were normal. A total of 45% had hypomagnesemia, 12% had hypermagnesemia, and 26% and 24% had inadequate and high Mg intake, respectively. Only 6% of patients had poor Mg intake and hypomagnesemia, and 54% and 90% of our series had an elevated serum Ca/Mg ratio > 4.70 (mean 4.79) and a low Ca/Mg intake ratio < 1.70 (mean 1.06), respectively. Both Ca/Mg ratios were linked with the risk of developing other chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, syndrome metabolic, and even several cancers. Therefore, 79% of children and adolescents with chronic diseases were at elevated risk of having abnormal Mg status and developing other chronic illnesses.

Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide (PTHrP): Evaluation of Pediatric, Covariate-Stratified Reference Intervals

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is expressed at a wide range of sites in the body and performs different functions including vasodilation, relaxation of smooth muscle cells, and regulation of bone development. PTHrP also mediates hypercalcemia related to neoplastic diseases. However, reference ranges specific method and age were not evaluated. We establish PTHrP reference ranges in apparently healthy, normocalcemic, normophosphatemic pediatric individuals. In this observational prospective, study we measured PTHrP in serum from 178 samples (55.06% male 44.94% female) from apparently healthy pediatric subjects [median age 10 years (range 1–18)] subunit ELISA method The statistical analysis performed provided for the calculation of the 95% reference interval, right-sided, with a non-parametric percentile method (CLSI C28-A3). Upper reference limits (URL) for PTHrP was 2.89 ng/mL (2.60 to 3.18; 90% CI). No significant differences were found between the median PTHrP concentrations in males vs females and in the age range categories selected. Comprehensive normal values for PTHrP are indispensable to the assessment of calcium phosphorus dysfunction in children. Severe hypercalcemia is a rare, but clinically significant condition, in infancy and childhood. PTHrP values higher than the reference value may help to distinguish the hypercalcemic product of a malignancy, paraneoplastic syndromes mediated by PTHrP, from other causes.

Hypercalcemia and Neurological Symptoms: A Rare Presentation of Hyperfunctioning Parathyroid Adenoma in an Adolescent

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are rarely described as a manifestation of hyperparathyroidism, especially in children. We describe the case of an adolescent with hypercalcemia related to and hyperfunctioning parathyroid adenoma presenting with acute neuropsychiatric symptoms. A 14-year-old-girl presented into the Emergency Service Department because of an acute onset of marked asthenia, muscle weakness with difficulty in walking, and altered mental status, which included nonsensical speech. No other neurological signs were present. Abdominal, cardiac, and thoracic examination were unremarkable. There was no recent history of trauma or infection. Family history was negative for neurologic disorders. Her past medical history was unremarkable. A head CT scan showed negative results. The laboratory work-up showed elevated levels of calcium level (14.35 mg/dl; nv 9–11 mg/dl), parathyroid hormone (PTH; 184 pg/ml; nv 3.5–36.8 pg/ml), and creatinine (1.23 mg/dl; nv 0.45–0.75 mg/dl). Sodium, potassium, chloride, thyroid function, glycemia, and insulin values were normal. Neck ultrasonography showed a solid, oval, capsulated, hypoechoic neoformation, with discrete vascularization localized to the inferior pole of the right thyroid lobe, referring to parathyroid tissue. Scintigraphy revealed a hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue at the inferior pole of the right thyroid lobe. Massive intravenous hydration and diuretic therapy were started. The signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia improved after the initiation of therapy. The patient was submitted to right cervicotomy and muscle sparing for the removal of the adenoma of the right superior parathyroid gland. After surgery, a decrease in PTH levels (<4 pg/ml) and calcium levels (9.1 mg/dl) was recorded. During follow-up, calcium values remained stable; a progressive normalization of PTH was obtained. The oral calcium therapy was suspended after 3 months from surgery. No neuropsychiatric symptoms recurred. An evaluation of the serum calcium level is mandatory in children and adolescents with unexplained neurological signs or symptoms, and a check for hyperparathyroidism should be considered.

Hypercalcemia associated with dysgerminoma and elevation of calcitriol: A case report and review of the literature

We report on the case of a patient with dysgerminoma, a rare germ cell tumor, which showed hypercalcemia with an elevation of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol). A 27-year-old nulliparous woman presented with hypercalcemia during the examination of a right ovarian tumor with an elevation of calcitriol, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase. Fractional excretion of calcium was elevated, and intact parathyroid hormone was suppressed. After undergoing right salpingo-oophorectomy, the patient’s serum calcium and calcitriol returned to the normal range within a week. A literature search was conducted on the topic by reviewing databases for dysgerminoma showing hypercalcemia. We identified 14 patients from the literature and performed a pooled analysis, including the results of our case. However, most cases lack data that can help investigate the potential association between parathyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone-related protein, calcitriol, and phosphorus in hypercalcemia. Thus, more case reports that include additional information are required to fully elucidate the mechanism of hypercalcemia associated with dysgerminoma.

Genetic causes of neonatal and infantile hypercalcaemia

The causes of hypercalcaemia in the neonate and infant are varied, and often distinct from those in older children and adults. Hypercalcaemia presents clinically with a range of symptoms including failure to thrive, poor feeding, constipation, polyuria, irritability, lethargy, seizures and hypotonia. When hypercalcaemia is suspected, an accurate diagnosis will require an evaluation of potential causes (e.g. family history) and assessment for physical features (such as dysmorphology, or subcutaneous fat deposits), as well as biochemical measurements, including total and ionised serum calcium, serum phosphate, creatinine and albumin, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D metabolites and urinary calcium, phosphate and creatinine. The causes of neonatal hypercalcaemia can be classified into high or low PTH disorders. Disorders associated with high serum PTH include neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and Jansen's metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. Conditions associated with low serum PTH include idiopathic infantile hypercalcaemia, Williams-Beuren syndrome and inborn errors of metabolism, including hypophosphatasia. Maternal hypocalcaemia and dietary factors and several rare endocrine disorders can also influence neonatal serum calcium levels. This review will focus on the common causes of hypercalcaemia in neonates and young infants, considering maternal, dietary, and genetic causes of calcium dysregulation. The clinical presentation and treatment of patients with these disorders will be discussed.

Effects of vitamin D and high dairy protein intake on bone mineralization and linear growth in 6- to 8-year-old children: the D-pro randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D and dairy protein may stimulate bone mineralization and linear growth in children, but previous studies show inconsistent results and have not examined their combined effects.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate combined and separate effects of vitamin D supplementation and high-protein (HP) compared with normal-protein (NP) yogurt intake on children's bone mineralization and linear growth.

METHODS

In a 2 × 2-factorial trial, 200 healthy, 6- to 8-year-old, Danish, children with light skin (55°N) were randomized to 20 µg/d vitamin D3 or placebo and to substitute 260 g/d dairy with HP (10 g protein/100 g) or NP (3.5 g protein/100 g) yogurt for 24 weeks during an extended winter. Outcomes were total body less head (TBLH) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone area (BA) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, height, and biomarkers of bone turnover and growth. The primary outcome was TBLH BMD.

RESULTS

In total, 184 children (92%) completed the study. The baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 80.8 ± 17.2 nmol/L, which increased by 7.2 ± 14.1 nmol/L and decreased by 32.3 ± 17.5 nmol/L with vitamin D and placebo, respectively. The baseline protein intake was 15.4 ± 2.4 energy percentage (E%), which increased to 18.3 ± 3.4 E% with HP. There were no vitamin D-yogurt interactions and no main effects of either intervention on TBLH BMD. However, vitamin D supplementation increased lumbar spine BMD and TBLH BMC compared to placebo, whereas HP groups showed lower increments in lumbar spine BMD, TBLH BMC and BA, and plasma osteocalcin compared to NP groups. Height, growth factors, and parathyroid hormone levels were unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there were no effects on whole-body BMD, vitamin D increased bone mass and spinal BMD, whereas high compared with normal dairy protein intake had smaller incremental effects on these outcomes. This supports a recommended vitamin D intake of around 20 µg/d during winter but not use of HP dairy products for improved bone mineralization among healthy, well-nourished children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03956732.

Intractable Vomiting in an 11-Month-Old Boy With Trisomy 21: A Case Report on Abnormal Calcium/Calcinosis/Creatinine in Down Syndrome

Abnormal calcium/calcinosis/creatinine in Down syndrome (ABCD syndrome) is a very rare condition with no clear etiology. In this paper, we describe our clinical encounter with this disease. We report the case of an 11-month-old male infant with Down syndrome (DS) who presented to the hospital with intractable vomiting and decreased oral intake and urine output. The evaluation revealed an acute kidney injury (AKI) and hypercalcemia. Although his AKI improved with intravenous hydration, his hypercalcemia persisted. Extensive studies were notable for an elevated urinary excretion of calcium and bilateral medullary nephrocalcinosis seen on renal ultrasound (US). As a result, he was diagnosed with ABCD syndrome. Dietary calcium restriction was implemented. During his follow-up visit with a pediatric endocrinologist, his serum calcium was found to be normalized. To our knowledge, this is only the seventh case report on ABCD syndrome in the literature.

Severe hypercalcemia associated with hypophosphatemia in very premature infants: a case report

BACKGROUND

Severe hypercalcemia is rare in newborns; even though often asymptomatic, it may have important sequelae. Hypophosphatemia can occur in infants experiencing intrauterine malnutrition, sepsis and early high-energy parenteral nutrition (PN) and can cause severe hypercalcemia through an unknown mechanism. Monitoring and supplementation of phosphate (PO4) and calcium (Ca) in the first week of life in preterm infants are still debated.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report on a female baby born at 29 weeks' gestation with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) experiencing sustained severe hypercalcemia (up to 24 mg/dl corrected Ca) due to hypophosphatemia while on phosphorus-free PN. Hypercalcemia did not improve after hyperhydration and furosemide but responded to infusion of PO4. Eventually, the infant experienced symptomatic hypocalcaemia (ionized Ca 3.4 mg/dl), likely exacerbated by contemporary infusion of albumin. Subsequently, a normalization of both parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Although severe hypercalcemia is extremely rare in neonates, clinicians should be aware of the possible occurrence of this life-threatening condition in infants with or at risk to develop hypophosphatemia. Hypophosphatemic hypercalcemia can only be managed with infusion of PO4, with strict monitoring of Ca and PO4 concentrations.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn and nephrolithiasis

Objectives

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a rare panniculitis that can affect newborn patients who have experienced perinatal stress, hypoxia, or hypothermia. Risk factors include gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. This condition is usually self-limiting; however, it can lead to severe complications, including hypercalcemia. After diagnosis, it is important to monitor calcium levels. There is no current standard for how frequently these levels should be monitored.

Case presentation

We present a full-term African American male with multiple risk factors, who was diagnosed with SCFN. The patient’s hypercalcemia secondary to SCFN led to renal complications.

Conclusions

This case highlights the importance of early and frequent monitoring of calcium levels in patients with SCFN.

Structural and chemical heterogeneities of primary hyperoxaluria kidney stones from pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

Calcium oxalate stones are the most common type among stone-forming patients and in some cases result from predisposed genetic conditions. In this work, we examined the differences in structure and chemical composition between oxalate stones from patients from three groups: 1) pediatric patients that were genetically predisposed (primary hyperoxaluria) to form stones (PPH); 2) control pediatric patients that did not have such genetic predisposition (PN-PH); 3) adult patients that formed oxalate stones without the genetic predisposition (A-CaOx). A variety of instrumental analyses were conducted to identify physicochemical properties of stones characteristic of predisposed pediatric (PPH), pediatric hyperoxaluria (PN-PH), and adult (A-CaOx) patient populations.

METHODS

Genetic variants of 16 stone-forming patients were determined using whole-exome gene sequencing. Components of stones from PPH (n = 6), PN-PH (n = 5), and A-CaOx (n = 5) groups were identified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Stone morphology and density were evaluated using high resolution X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT). Stone microstructure and elemental composition were mapped with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

Calcium oxalate bipyramidal crystals were found on stones from all groups. Stones from PPH patients with PH types I and II were composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) with relatively uniform mineral density (1224 ± 277 mg/cc) and distinct smooth surfaces. By contrast, micro-spherical calcium phosphate particles were found only on PN-PH stones, which also showed a broader range of mineral densities (1266 ± 342 mg/cc). Stones from the PN-PH group also contained phosphorus (P), which was absent in NP-PH stones. A-CaOx stones were of significantly lower mineral density (645 ± 237 mg/cc) than pediatric stones and were more heterogeneous in their elemental composition.

CONCLUSION

Unique structural and compositional characteristics were identified in stones from pediatric patients with primary hyperoxaluria. These include the absence of phosphorus, a narrower mineral density distribution, and a uniform elemental composition compared to stones from pediatric patients without the genetic predisposition. Thus, characterization of stones at the macro- and micro-scales in combination with genetic testing of patients can provide insights and accurate diagnosis to develop a treatment plan for effective patient care.

Symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism in a young woman presenting with multiple skeletal destructions: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Multiple pathological manifestations are rarely present in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Here we described a case of a young woman who presented with multiple skeletal destructions and received an unclear diagnosis at several hospitals.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to pain in both knees and walking difficulty that lasted for 6 and 2 years, respectively. Her laboratory test results revealed a high parathyroid hormone level (822 pg/ml) and hypercalcemia (2.52 mmol/L) in the blood. Parathyroid imaging revealed a lumpy concentration of radioactive uptake detected at the lower pole in the right lobe of the thyroid, and was nearly 2.2 cm * 2.4 cm in size. Next, the patient was treated with parathyroidectomy that resulted in a significant improvement in physiological and clinical symptoms. Moreover, the skeletal destruction and bone mineral density were significantly improved after a 5-years follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple skeletal destructions can be caused by PHPT that should be taken into consideration in young patients with complex bone lesions.

Presymptomatic diagnosis of CYP24A1-related infantile idiopathic hypercalcemia: A case report

Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization. Inefficient inactivation of vitamin D leads to a condition called idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH). In the last decade mutations in CYP24A1, the gene responsible for vitamin D inactivation, were described as the main molecular cause of IIH. In this study, we present a family with two daughters diagnosed with IIH due to two different mutations in CYP24A1 gene. Based on next-generation sequencing (NGS), the elder daughter was diagnosed as carrying the mutations CYP24A1: c.1186C > T; (p.Arg396Trp) and c.428_430del; (p.Glu143del). Within this context, we were able to presymptomatically diagnose her newborn sister using Sanger sequencing technique. Screening for CYP24A1 mutations in families with IIH history helps preventing disease manifestations in newborn siblings. Thus, NGS combined with Sanger sequencing validation opens up the perspective of preventive medicine with great impact on IIH management, where stopping vitamin D administration is enough to prevent disease manifestation, in most cases.

Bone Health Management After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: An Expert Panel Opinion from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Bone health disturbances commonly occur after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and avascular necrosis (AVN) foremost among them. BMD loss is related to pretransplantation chemotherapy and radiation exposure and immunosuppressive therapy for graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and results from deficiencies in growth or gonadal hormones, disturbances in calcium and vitamin D homeostasis, as well as osteoblast and osteoclast dysfunction. Although the pathophysiology of AVN remains unclear, high-dose glucocorticoid exposure is the most frequent association. Various societal treatment guidelines for osteoporosis exist, but the focus is mainly on menopausal-associated osteoporosis. HCT survivors comprise a distinct population with unique comorbidities, making general approaches to bone health management inappropriate in some cases. To address a core set of 16 frequently asked questions (FAQs) relevant to bone health in HCT, the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy Committee on Practice Guidelines convened a panel of experts in HCT, adult and pediatric endocrinology, orthopedics, and oral medicine. Owing to a lack of relevant prospective controlled clinical trials that specifically address bone health in HCT, the answers to the FAQs rely on evidence derived from retrospective HCT studies, results extrapolated from prospective studies in non-HCT settings, relevant societal guidelines, and expert panel opinion. Given the heterogenous comorbidities and needs of individual HCT recipients, answers to FAQs in this article should be considered general recommendations, with good medical practice and judgment ultimately dictating care of individual patients. Readers are referred to the Supplementary Material for answers to additional FAQs that did not make the core set.

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia: mutations in SLC34A1 and CYP24A1 in two siblings and fathers

Objectives Both CYP24A1 and SLC34A1 gene mutations are responsible for idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia, whereas loss-of-function mutations in CYP24A1 (25-OH-vitamin D-24-hydroxylase) lead to a defect in the inactivation of active 1.25(OH)2D; mutations in SLC34A1 encoding renal sodium phosphate cotransporter NaPi-IIa lead to primary renal phosphate wasting combined with an inappropriate activation of vitamin D. The presence of mutations in both genes has not been reported in the same patient until today. Case presentation Hypercalcemia was incidentally detected when a 13-month-old boy was being examined for urinary tract infection. After 21 months, hypercalcemia was detected in his six-month-old sister. High dose of vitamin D was not given to both siblings. Both of them also had hypophosphatemia and decreased tubular phosphate reabsorption. Intensive hydration, furosemide and oral phosphorus treatment were given. Bilateral medullary nephrocalcinosis was detected in both siblings and their father. Serum Ca and P levels were within normal limits at follow-up in both siblings. Siblings and their parents all carry a homozygous stop codon mutation (p.R466*) in CYP24A1. Interestingly, both siblings and the father also have a heterozygous splice-site mutation (IVS6(+1)G>A) in SLC34A1. The father has nephrocalcinosis. Conclusions A biallelic loss-of-function mutation in the CYP24A1 gene was identified as responsible for hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis. In addition, a heterozygous mutation in the SLC34A1 gene, although not being the main pathogenic factor, might contribute to the severe phenotype of both patients.

False Negative D Vitamin Measurement in LC-MS/MS Method Due to Hyperlipidemia: Case Report

BACKGROUND

Lipemia can influence laboratory test results by different mechanisms. Although the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is considered the reference method for 25(OH)D3, some compounds (carbohydrate, lipids, proteins, etc.) in the blood may cause a false result indicating a negative or positive deviation rate from the correct blood level of the test.

CASE REPORT

In this paper, we report a case of D vitamin intoxication due to a false negative result caused by lipemia. A young woman with a complaint of pain in multiple joints applied to the physical therapy clinic and was found to have some cystic bone lesions. She was eventually diagnosed with DM tip 1, familial hyperlipidemia, and nephrolithiasis. Although she had D vitamin replacement therapy, low levels of blood 25(OH)D3 concentration, measured by an LC-MS/MS device, were detected. After blood dilution, a high level of 25(OH)D3 and blood intoxication due to lipid interference were indicated.

CONCLUSION

From this case, we can conclude that analytical errors caused by the ingredients of a blood sample may lead to unnecessary treatment and intoxication. While evaluating the blood 25(OH)D3 levels, clinicians should guard against false-negative results due to interference in patients with familial hyperlipidemia.

Differences in primary hyperparathyroidism characteristics between children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

In children and adolescents, primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is rare, associated with severe morbidity, and has different clinical characteristics than in adults. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in clinical and laboratory characteristics between children and adolescents with pHPT.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze pHPT characteristics in young patients, who have been operated at our institution. All patients were divided into two groups: group of patients ≤15 years (children) and group of patients >15 and ≤20 years (adolescents).

RESULTS

Out of 1363 pHPT patients surgically treated during the study period, 14 patients (1%) were younger than 20 years: 6 children and 8 adolescents. Male-to-female ratio in children was 2:1, and in adolescents 1:1.7. Kidney stones were found in 62.5% of the adolescents and in none of the children patients. Bone form of the disease was the most frequent in children (in 83.1%), while in adolescents the kidney form was the most frequent (in 50%). Only 16.7% of children and 25% of adolescents did not have classical symptoms. All adolescent patients had single parathyroid adenoma, while 4 children patients had single parathyroid adenoma, one patient had hyperplasia, and one had parathyroid carcinoma. Both preoperative serum calcium and PTH levels were higher in children than in adolescents (3.87 mmol/L vs. 3.17 mmol/L; 812 ng/mL vs. 392 ng/mL, respectively). In all patients vitamin D level was low. All patients had normal postoperative values of serum calcium and PTH.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant difference in clinical and biochemical characteristics between children and adolescent pHPT patients. Therefore, these two groups should be analyzed and treated separately.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective comparative study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Variability in the Clearance of Lead Oxide Nanoparticles Is Associated with Alteration of Specific Membrane Transporters

Lead oxide nanoparticles (PbONPs), upon their entry into the lungs via inhalation, induce structural changes in primary and secondary target organs. The fate and ultrastructural localization of PbONPs in organs is known to be dependent on the specific organ. Here, we focused on the differences in the ability to clear the inhaled PbONPs from secondary target organs and on molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to nanoparticle removal. Mice were exposed to PbONPs in whole-body inhalation chambers. Clearance of ionic lead and PbONPs (Pb/PbONPs) from the lungs and liver was very effective, with the lead being almost completely eliminated from the lungs and the physiological state of the lung tissue conspicuously restored. Kidneys exposed to nanoparticles did not exhibit serious signs of damage; however, LA-ICP-MS uncovered a certain amount of lead located preferentially in the kidney cortex even after a clearance period. The concentration of lead in femurs, as representatives of the axial skeleton, was the highest among studied organs at all designated time points after PbONP exposure, and the clearance ability of lead from the femurs was very low in contrast to other organs. The organ-specific increase of ABC transporters expression (ABCG2 in lungs and ABCC3 in the liver) was observed in exposed animals, suggesting their involvement in removing Pb/PbONPs from tissues. Moreover, the expression of caveolins and clathrin displayed a tissue-specific response to lead exposure. Our results uncovered high variability among the organs in their ability to clear Pb/PbONPs and in the transporters involved in this process.

Calcium Levels in the Neonate

Calcium, the most abundant ion in the neonate, plays a role in bone formation, blood coagulation, muscle contractility, and nerve conduction. Calcium levels are regulated via a negative feedback loop by the parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vitamin D. Calcium levels in the neonate must be monitored carefully to avoid complications that affect the central nervous system as well as the cardiac and musculoskeletal systems.

An Atypical Presentation of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in an Adolescent: A Case Report of Hypercalcaemia and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Due to a Mediastinal Parathyroid Adenoma

Psychiatric disorders are rare clinical manifestations of hypercalcaemia in the pediatric population, are relatively more frequent during adolescence and are often overlooked in cases of severe hypercalcaemia. We described the case of a 17-year-old girl affected by anorexia nervosa, depression and self-harm with incidental detection of moderate hypercalcaemia. Clinical, laboratory and instrumental tests demonstrated that hypercalcaemia was secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in the thymic parenchyma. After parathyroidectomy with robot-assisted surgery, we observed the restoration of calcium and PTH levels in addition to an improvement in psychiatric symptoms. This case demonstrates that serum calcium concentration should be evaluated in adolescents with neurobehavioural symptoms and in cases of hypercalcaemia PHPT should be excluded. Surgery represents the cornerstone of the management of PHPT and may contribute to improving quality of life and psychological function in these patients. However, the complexity of neurological involvement in cases of hypercalcaemia due to PHPT requires further investigations to establish the real impact of this condition on the neurocognitive sphere.

Zoledronate-responsive calcitriol-mediated hypercalcemia in a 5-year-old case with squamous cell carcinoma on the background of xeroderma pigmentosum

Malignancy-induced hypercalcemia is a very rare condition in children whereas it is more common among adult patients with malignancy. The mechanisms of malignancy-induced hypercalcemia include the over-secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), osteolytic metastases and the over-production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol). Although hypercalcemia due to PTHrP secretion has been published before, overproduction of calcitriol has not been reported yet in pediatric squamous cell skin carcinoma cases. Herein, we report calcitriol-mediated severe hypercalcemia in a 5-year-old boy with squamous cell skin carcinoma arising in the background of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) which responded well to zoledronate treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first pediatric case of malignancy-induced hypercalcemia which is mediated by calcitriol in squamous cell skin carcinoma.

Microcalcifications, calcium-sensing receptor, and cancer

Calcium stones and calculi are observed in numerous human tissues. They are the result of deposition of calcium salts and are due to high local calcium concentrations. Prostatic calculi are usually classified as endogenous or extrinsic stones. Endogenous stones are commonly caused by obstruction of the prostatic ducts around an enlarged prostate resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia or from chronic inflammation. The latter occurs mainly around the urethra and is generally caused by reflux of urine into the prostate. Calcium concentrations higher than in the plasma at sites of infection may induce the chemotactic response that eventually leads to recruitment of inflammatory cells. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) may be crucial for this recruitment as its expression and activity are increased by cytokines such as IL-6 and high extracellular calcium concentrations, respectively. The links between calcium calculi, inflammation, calcium supplementation, and CaSR functions in prostate cancer patients will be discussed in this review.

Two Different Causes of Paediatric Hypercalcaemia

Paediatric hypercalcaemia is a rare condition which can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed. We report two paediatric patients who presented to the Department of Paediatrics, Pardubice Hospital, Pardubice, Czech Republic, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Each patient was diagnosed with hypercalcaemia due to a different cause. The first case involved a seven-month-old infant who presented with failure to thrive, vomiting and psychomotor retardation. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation revealed Williams-Beuren syndrome. The second patient was a 16-year-old girl with abdominal pain and renal colic due to hypercalcaemia-induced urolithiasis. High parathyroid hormone serum levels suggested primary hyperparathyroidism. An adenoma of the left upper parathyroid gland was diagnosed via technetium-99m-labelled methoxyisobutyl isonitrile single photon emission computed tomography and removed surgically. Hypercalcaemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of various disease states, particularly among infants who fail to thrive or children with abdominal pain.

Correlation of Calcium and Magnesium Levels in the Biological Samples of Different Types of Acute Leukemia Children

Acute leukemia (AL) is a common childhood malignancy. It is clinically and morphologically heterogeneous. The present work was intended to estimate the concentration of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in serum and whole blood samples of children having AL; 1- to 5- and 6- to 10-year-old children age group was chosen of both genders. Healthy children of the same age group were selected as controls for comparative study. For sample pretreatment, a microwave-assisted acid digestion (MAD) was carried out, to assess the concentration of Ca and Mg in biological samples of AL children. The MAD method was validated by analyzing Clinchek® Control certified samples of whole blood and serum. Ca and Mg were analyzed in the digested samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results showed significantly higher concentration of Ca, whereas lower contents of Mg in the serum and whole blood of AL children in both genders, as compared to healthy subjects. The data provide assistance to physician/clinicians and other professional staffs to investigate the imbalance of minerals in biological samples of AL children.

Hypercalcemia: a consultant's approach

Due to their daily involvement in mineral metabolism, nephrologists are often asked to consult on children with hypercalcemia. This might become even more pertinent when the hypercalcemia is associated with acute kidney injury and/or hypercalciuria and renal calcifications. The best way to assess the severity of hypercalcemia is by measurement of plasma ionized calcium, and if not available by adjusting serum total calcium to albumin concentration. The differential diagnosis of the possible etiologies of the disturbance in the mineral homeostasis starts with the assessment of serum parathyroid hormone concentration, followed by that of vitamin D metabolites in search of both genetic and acquired etiologies. Several tools are available to acutely treat hypercalcemia with the current main components being fluids, loop diuretics, and antiresorptive agents. This review will address the pathophysiologic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and treatment modalities involved in hypercalcemia.

PHPT Masquerading as Rickets in Children and Presenting with Rare Skeletal Manifestations: Report of Three Cases and Review of Literature

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an uncommon condition in children and adolescents. However, rapid growth spurt during puberty may result in unmasking and development of certain skeletal manifestations of PHPT. We present three cases of PHPT associated with rare skeletal manifestations of rickets. All three patients had radiological evidence of rickets with primary hyperparathyroidism. All the three patients had single gland adenoma. Literature is sparse regarding reversal of features of rickets following parathyroidectomy. In all three patients of our series, there was a complete resolution of bone/joint pain. However, in two children only the genu valgum persisted but their growth was normal and they had no proximal muscle weakness. In another child multiple corrective surgeries were done to correct the deformities.

Current treatment of hypoparathyroidism: Theory versus reality waiting guidelines for children and adolescents

The diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism(HPT)is readily made in the presence of hypocalcemia with markedly reduced or absent parathormone (PTH) levels. Currently available treatments for HPT include high dose vitamin D (ergocalciferol, D2 and cholecalciferol, D3) or, the active metabolite dihydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol), in addition to calcium supplements.This regimen, if not well monitored, can lead to hypercalciuria, as PTH deficiency impairs renal calcium reabsorption. Thus the goal of treatment, is to maintain serum calcium at the low end of the normal range. Undertreatment can cause symptomatic hypocalcemia, while overtreatment hypercalciuria, which may lead to nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis, and renal insufficiency. At present, there is no consensus on the management of HPT in children and adolescents and only few studies are available on the long term outcome of patients with recombinant HPT treatment. The purpose of this article is to review, in a comprehensive manner, the major aspects of HPT management in children and adolescents waiting for authoritative guidelines for the treatment of HPT in this group of patients. Further research, addressing specific questions for this population are urgently needed to improve long-term safety of patients. Educational interventions are also needed for professionals, parents and patients to enable them to improve knowledge, quality of life and effective management care at home. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Childhood Sustained Hypercalcemia: A Diagnostic Challenge

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to call attention to hypercalcemia, a rare finding in children which carries the potential of leading to serious complications without proper intervention.

METHODS

Diagnosis, treatment, and clinical course of children with sustained hypercalcemia admitted between the years 2006-2016 were reviewed. Group 1 [parathyroid hormone (PTH)-dependent] consisted of patients with high/unsuppressed PTH levels and group 2 (PTH-independent) included cases with normal/suppressed PTH levels.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (11 male, 9 female) with a median age of 6.25 (0.03-17.88) years were evaluated. Symptoms were mostly related with the gastrointestinal system, while six patients (30%) were asymptomatic. Physical examination findings were diverse, non-specific, and normal in four patients (20%). Median time of diagnosis was 45 (2-720) days. Patients were divided into group 1 (n=7) and group 2 (n=13). Most frequent etiologies were primary hyperparathyroidism (n=5), idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH) (n=5), and malignancy (n=4). A moderate positive correlation was noted between serum calcium and creatinine levels (r=0.53, p=0.02). Nephrocalcinosis was the most common complication (n=9) (45%). Treatment was not implemented in 2 patients with mild hypercalcemia, while other patients received medical treatment ± surgery. Treatment-resistant patients were cases of malignancies and neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism. Long-term follow-up displayed resistant hypercalciuria in three infants diagnosed as IIH.

CONCLUSION

Many patients with childhood hypercalcemia are asymptomatic or exhibit a non-specific and heterogeneous clinical presentation, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Mild cases may not be recognized, while symptoms may be missed in the presence of accompanying illnesses. Nevertheless, serious complications may only be avoided with prompt diagnosis and intervention.

Hypercalcemic Disorders in Children

Hypercalcemia is defined as a serum calcium concentration that is greater than two standard deviations above the normal mean, which in children may vary with age and sex, reflecting changes in the normal physiology at each developmental stage. Hypercalcemic disorders in children may present with hypotonia, poor feeding, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, lethargy, polyuria, dehydration, failure to thrive, and seizures. In severe cases renal failure, pancreatitis and reduced consciousness may also occur and older children and adolescents may present with psychiatric symptoms. The causes of hypercalcemia in children can be classified as parathyroid hormone (PTH)-dependent or PTH-independent, and may be congenital or acquired. PTH-independent hypercalcemia, ie, hypercalcemia associated with a suppressed PTH, is commoner in children than PTH-dependent hypercalcemia. Acquired causes of PTH-independent hypercalcemia in children include hypervitaminosis; granulomatous disorders, and endocrinopathies. Congenital syndromes associated with PTH-independent hypercalcemia include idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH), William's syndrome, and inborn errors of metabolism. PTH-dependent hypercalcemia is usually caused by parathyroid tumors, which may give rise to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) or tertiary hyperparathyroidism, which usually arises in association with chronic renal failure and in the treatment of hypophosphatemic rickets. Acquired causes of PTH-dependent hypercalcemia in neonates include maternal hypocalcemia and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. PHPT usually occurs as an isolated nonsyndromic and nonhereditary endocrinopathy, but may also occur as a hereditary hypercalcemic disorder such as familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, neonatal severe primary hyperparathyroidism, and familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism, and less commonly, as part of inherited complex syndromic disorders such as multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). Advances in identifying the genetic causes have resulted in increased understanding of the underlying biological pathways and improvements in diagnosis. The management of symptomatic hypercalcemia includes interventions such as fluids, antiresorptive medications, and parathyroid surgery. This article presents a clinical, biochemical, and genetic approach to investigating the causes of pediatric hypercalcemia. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Case report: rare skeletal manifestations in a child with primary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is uncommon among children with an incidence of 1:300,000. This diagnosis is often missed in children in contrast to adults where it is detected at a pre symptomatic stage due to routine blood investigations. Etiology of PHPT can be due to adenoma, hyperplasia or rarely carcinoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 12 year old Sri Lankan girl presented with progressive difficulty in walking since 1 year. On examination she had bilateral genu valgum. Skeletal survey revealed valgus deformity of knee joints, bilateral subluxation of upper femoral epiphysis(SUFE), epiphyseal displacement of bilateral humeri, rugger jersey spine and subperiosteal bone resorptions in lateral aspects of 2nd and 3rd middle phalanges. There were no radiological manifestations of rickets. Metabolic profile revealed hypercalcemia with hypophosphatemia. Intact parathyroid hormone levels were elevated at 790 pg/ml. Vitamin D levels were deficient. She had low bone mineral density with Z score of -3.4. Vitamin D supplementation resulted in worsening of hypercalcemia without reduction in PTH levels. Tc 99 Sestamibi uptake scan showed abnormal tracer retention in left inferior pole of thyroid. A large parathyroid gland was removed with histology favoring parathyroid adenoma. Post operatively she developed hypocalcemia. Bilateral osteotomy was done for SUFE and further surgeries for correction of limb deformities planned.

CONCLUSION

PHPT in children is usually diagnosed late when irreversible organ damage has occurred. Children can present with non specific symptoms involving gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, renal and neurological systems. PHPT can cause disarray in bone and epiphysis in children during pubertal growth spurt. Genu valgum and SUFE are rare skeletal manifestations in PHPT and only 10 cases of genu valgum and 9 cases of SUFE have been reported up to now. So far no cases have been reported on epiphyseal displacement of humeri. Awareness regarding the occurrence of these rare skeletal manifestations especially during puberty is important for early diagnosis to prevent irreversible outcomes.

Prevalence of hypercalcemia of malignancy among pediatric cancer patients in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink database

Background

The reported proportion of cancer patients who experience hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is low, particularly in the pediatric population, ranging between <1% and 5%. HCM can be observed with any type of tumor in children and occurs most commonly with leukemia. While HCM is a potentially fatal condition, the prevalence of HCM is not well understood in pediatric cancer patients.

Methods

Using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified pediatric cancer patients with recorded corrected serum calcium (CSC) from 2003 through 2014. Hypercalcemic patients (CSC ≥10.8 mg/dL) were classified into 4 CSC levels. We estimated the annual prevalence of HCM using Byar’s method.

Results

Among 517 pediatric cancer patients, leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors were the most frequent cancer types. The prevalence of HCM overall (grade 1 or higher) ranged from 0.24% to 0.81% between 2003 and 2014. There were too few cases to compare prevalence by type of cancer.

Conclusion

We provide the first systematic analysis using a UK population-based data source to estimate the number of pediatric cancer patients affected with HCM by grade. Our findings showed that the prevalence of pediatric HCM was very low (0.24%–0.81%) over the 12-year study period, which is consistent with previous study of adult cancer patients in the UK (0.20%–0.67%).

Giant parathyroid adenoma associated with severe hypercalcemia in an adolescent patient

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to bring attention to the importance of differential diagnosis in adolescent patients with skeletal involvement and hypercalcemia.

CASE

A 17-year-old male patient with a complaint of severe leg pain was admitted to our hospital. Seven months before he had a fracture of his distal humerus after falling on to his left shoulder and was treated conservatively. Five months previously, he had a rupture of his quadriceps tendon. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed for the quadriceps tendon rupture and was evaluated as polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD). Doctors decided to operate for the ruptured tendon but they detected severe hypercalcemia in the pre-operative blood tests and noticed that the main disease was primary hyper-parathyroidisim (PHPT) which was caused by a giant parathyroid adenoma. Conclusions Giant parathyroid adenoma can present in adolescent patients with multiple bone lesions and severe hypercalcemia. PHPT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pathological bone fractures and benign bone tumors in every age. This may prevent patients from miss or delayed diagnosis of PHPT.

Osteolytic bone lesions, severe hypercalcemia without circulating blasts: unusual presentation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Hypercalcemia and severe osteolytic lesions are rare complications of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in childhood. We report a case of a 3 years old boy who presented with prolonged fever, nausea, vomiting and increasing lower limbs pain. Skeletal X-rays and CT scan showed severe osteolytic lesions of the skull and extremities. Her physical examination showed multiple cervical lymph nodes. In laboratory tests, he had severe hypercalcemia. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was not elevated. Despite the absence of circulating blasts, bone marrow biopsy revealed B-precursor (ALL). Hypercalcemia was initially treated with intravenous isotonic sodium chloride solution and diuretics but the serum calcium level normalized only after the beginning of corticosteroids and chemotherapy. The child responded initially to chemotherapy and eventually relapsed and died of septic shock. Acute leukemia must be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with hypercalcemia. A detailed examination even when there no circulating blasts in their peripheral blood smear, and if in doubt bone marrow aspiration should must be taken into consideration.

Green Urine in Traditional Persian Medicine: Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Relevance

The color of urine is an important factor in urine examination, which can help physicians differentiate various diseases. Today, it is known that certain dyes, drug intoxications, and diseases can induce green urine discoloration. In the view of traditional Persian medicine, which is based on humoral medicine, green urine discoloration is generally referred to the dominance of coldness in the body. In fact, it is considered to be a result of a special kind of humoral imbalance and fluid depletion or retention in the human body. Persian scholars believed that green urine could be an indicator of intoxication or a predictor of an imminent spasm or convulsion in pediatric patients. Further investigations could result in finding new diagnostic scales of urine color based on the teachings of traditional Persian medicine.

Malignancy-Induced Hypercalcemia-Diagnostic Challenges

Hypercalcemia in children is a rare metabolic finding. The clinical picture is usually non-specific, and the etiology includes several entities (metabolic, nutritional, drug-induced, inflammatory, cancer-associated, or genetic) depending on the age at presentation, but severe hypercalcemia is associated mainly with malignancy in childhood and sepsis in neonates. Severe parathyroid hormone (PTH)-suppressed hypercalcemia is challenging and requires multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to (i) confirm or rule out a malignant cause, (ii) treat it and its potentially dangerous complications. We report a case of severe and complicated PTH-independent hypercalcemia in a symptomatic 3-year-old boy. His age, severity of hypercalcemia and its complicated course, and the first imaging reports were suggestive of malignancy. The first bone and kidney biopsies and bone marrow aspiration were normal. The definitive diagnosis was a malignant-induced hypercalcemia, and we needed 4 weeks to assess other differential diagnoses and to confirm, on histopathological and immunochemical base, the malignant origin of hypercalcemia. Using this case as an illustrative example, we suggest a diagnostic approach that underlines the importance of repeated histology if the clinical suspicion is malignancy-induced hypercalcemia. Effective treatment is required acutely to restore calcium levels and to avoid complications.