Intravenous bisphosphonate for hypercalcemia accompanying subcutaneous fat necrosis: a novel treatment approach

Safety and Efficacy of Pamidronate in Neonatal Hypercalcemia Caused by Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis: A Case Report

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a panniculitis that develops in fatty areas after fetal or perinatal distress. Prognosis is generally good with complete regression, but it can be complicated by metabolic abnormalities like hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, thrombocytopenia, and also potentially life-threatening hypercalcemia. Treatments have included hydration, furosemide and corticosteroids. These treatments can be prolonged for several days and can have complications such as nephrocalcinosis. Use of bisphosphonates has been rarely reported in newborn. We describe a case of severe hypercalcemia complicating subcutaneous fat necrosis in a newborn successfully treated by a single dose of pamidronate after having obtained partial response by therapy with hyperhydration, furosemide and hydrocortisone. When high levels of calcium do not respond to first line therapy with hyperhydration and diuretic therapy, bisphosphonates treatment could be considered a valid choice to treat hypercalcemia and to avoid corticosteroids. Further studies are needed to understand if pamidronate and other bisphosphonates can be considered the first choice in hypercalcemia due to SCFN.

Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis and Hypercalcemia with Nephrocalcinosis in Infancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Subcutaneous fat necrosis is an uncommon benign panniculitis affecting more commonly full-term newborns. It has been associated with birth asphyxia and meconium aspiration, as well as therapeutic hypothermia. Although the prognosis is generally favorable, complications such as hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia may complicate its course. The most serious complication is hypercalcemia that may reach life threatening levels and can be associated with nephrocalcinosis. We thereby describe a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis after therapeutic hypothermia, which presented with late-onset refractory severe hypercalcemia and persistent nephrocalcinosis during the follow up of the patient. Due to the risk of the development of chronic kidney disease, we highlight the importance of careful monitoring of hypercalcemia and review the literature of subcutaneous fat necrosis related to nephrocalcinosis.

Pamidronate as first-line treatment of hypercalcemia in neonatal subcutaneous fat necrosis: A case series

Background

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) can be complicated by severe hypercalcemia, which is frequently asymptomatic. Nephrocalcinosis is associated with hypercalcemia and, in other clinical settings, has been linked to furosemide and glucocorticoid use. First-line bisphosphonate therapy treating hypercalcemia in neonatal SCFN is not well described.

Objectives

To describe the biochemical changes and risk of nephrocalcinosis in infants with hypercalcemia, secondary to neonatal SCFN, treated with initial pamidronate.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of five infants treated with initial pamidronate and without furosemide or glucocorticoids. Data were collected on the following: timing of presentation, therapeutic response, and presence of nephrocalcinosis.

Results

Hypercalcemia resolved after 2.8±1.7 days; this is compared to 7.6±2.8 days from previously reported cases utilising alternative therapies (P=0.012). There were no episodes of rebound hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia. Nephrocalcinosis was present in four of five cases. When including published cases, age at diagnosis was associated with presenting serum calcium (P=0.003) and nephrocalcinosis was associated with higher serum calcium (P=0.014) and time from SCFN to hypercalcemia diagnosis (P=0.002).

Conclusions

This retrospective case series demonstrates that first-line pamidronate treatment was effective and safe in the resolution of hypercalcemia. Nephrocalcinosis was observed, despite the avoidance of furosemide and glucocorticoid therapy, and associated with greater disease severity and duration of hypercalcemia.

Neonatal hypercalcemia secondary to subcutaneous fat necrosis successfully treated with pamidronate: a case series and literature review

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is a noninfectious panniculitis that occurs in term infants who experience significant distress in the 1st weeks of life, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Since the introduction of therapeutic hypothermia for HIE, there have been a few published case reports of SCFN, following this modality of treatment. Although, most cases of SCFN resolve spontaneously, SCFN may be associated with hypercalcemia, which may sometimes reach dangerous levels. Approaches used for the management of this potentially life-threatening condition, include hyperhydration, calciuric diuretics, corticosteroids, and in more resistant cases pamidronate, a bisphosphonate. We report our experience on the use of pamidronate in two cases of severe hypercalcemia associated with SCFN following therapeutic hypothermia for HIE. We believe that with increasing use of therapeutic hypothermia for HIE, clinicians are likely to encounter this condition more frequently.

Severe hypercalcaemia due to subcutaneous fat necrosis: presentation, management and complications

OBJECTIVE

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is a rare form of panniculitis in infants that generally occurs following birth trauma, meconium aspiration, or therapeutic cooling. Severe hypercalcaemia occurs in a subset of patients, but data on its presentation, management and outcomes are limited. This report details the clinical course and complications of infants treated for severe hypercalcaemia (peak serum calcium ≥3.0 mmol/L) due to SCFN.

DESIGN

Chart review of all infants with SCFN seen at a single paediatric centre over a 13-year period.

PATIENTS

Seven infants with SCFN developed severe hypercalcaemia, with median peak serum calcium 4.1 mmol/L (range 3.3-5.1).

RESULTS

Severe hypercalcaemia occurred before 6 weeks of age, and was asymptomatic in 3/7 patients (43%). Most patients were treated with intravenous hydration, furosemide, glucocorticoids and low-calcium formula, which restored normocalcaemia in a median of 9 days (range 2-42). Fever developed during treatment in 4/7 infants (57%): two patients had bacterial infections and two had no infectious source identified. Nephrocalcinosis was present in 5/6 patients (83%) who were evaluated by renal ultrasound. Nephrocalcinosis failed to resolve in all cases over a median follow-up of 20 months (range 8-48), but no renal dysfunction was observed. Eosinophilia, which has not been reported previously in SCFN, was present in 6/7 patients (86%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this largest series to date of infants with severe hypercalcaemia due to SCFN, novel findings include the common occurrence of fever and a high incidence of persistent nephrocalcinosis without evidence of adverse renal outcomes.

Use of Ultrasonic Bone Surgery (Piezosurgery) to Surgically Treat Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (BRONJ). A Case Series Report with at Least 1 Year of Follow-Up

This preliminary work documents the use of a powerful piezosurgery device to treat biphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in combination with classical medication therapy. Eight patients presenting 9 BRONJ sites were treated, 2 in the maxilla and 7 in the mandible. Reason for biphosphonate (BiP) intake was treatment of an oncologic disease for 5 patients and osteoporosis for 3. The oncologic and osteoporosis patients were diagnosed with BRONJ after 35-110 months and 80-183 months of BiP treatment, respectively. BRONJ 2 and 3 was found in 4 patients. Resection of the bone sequestrae was performed with a high power ultrasonic (piezo) surgery and antibiotics were administrated for 2 weeks. Soft tissue healing was incomplete at the 2-week control but it was achieved within 1 month. At the 1-year control, soft tissue healing was maintained at all patients, without symptom recurrence. One patient with paraesthesia had abated; of the 2 pa-tients with trismus, one was healed, severity of the second trismus abated. This case report series suggests that bone resection performed with a high power ultrasonic surgery device combined with antibiotics might lead to BRONJ healing. More patients are warranted to confirm the present findings and assess this treatment approach.

[Renal ultrasound in fat necrosis]

Subcutaneous fat necrosis is an uncommon disease that may be complicated with potentially fatal hypercalcemia or with nephrocalcinosis. We report on the case of a patient with a history of significant perinatal asphyxia, hospitalized for a urinary tract infection. Lesions of subcutaneous fat necrosis were noted, with asymptomatic hypercalcemia at 3.9mmol/L. A renal ultrasound was performed and showed echogenic medullary pyramids bilaterally, consistent with nephrocalcinosis and left nephrolithiasis. The treatment of hypercalcemia included hyperhydration, a diuretic and corticosteroids. Progression was characterized by the total regression of skin lesions and normalization of serum calcium. Hypercalcemia is a rare complication of subcutaneous fat necrosis. It develops within days to weeks after the appearance of skin lesions. Nephrocalcinosis appears after several weeks or months. Hypercalcemia must be treated in due time to avoid the impact on the kidney.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn: a systematic evaluation of risk factors, clinical manifestations, complications and outcome of 16 children

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) of the newborn is a rare acute transient hypodermatitis that develops within the first weeks of life in term infants. It often follows a difficult delivery. Prognosis is generally good except for the development of hypercalcaemia in severe cases. Only several case reports or small patients series have been published.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate risk factors, complications and outcomes of SFN in 16 consecutive patients seen from 1996 to 2002 in our Department of Paediatric Dermatology.

METHODS

On a case-report form created for the study, we recorded putative risk factors concerning the mother, pregnancy and delivery, clinical aspects of SFN, and early and late outcomes. The study was conducted in two stages: the first was a retrospective analysis of the observations and the second analysed data collected on children and their parents during a new consultation (n=10).

RESULTS

All the children were born at term. Lesions appeared a mean of 4 days after delivery. Three-quarters of the children had diffuse SFN. Risk factors identified were newborn failure to thrive (12/16), forceps delivery (7/16), maternal high blood pressure (3/10) and/or diabetes (2/10), and newborn cardiac surgery (1/16). Putative novel risk factors were macrosomia (7/16), exposure to active (4/10) or passive (3/10) smoking during pregnancy, putative or known maternal, paternal or newborn risk factors for thrombosis (5/10), and dyslipidaemia (2/10). Complications were hypercalcaemia (9/16), pain (4/16), dyslipidaemia (1/16), renal insufficiency (1/16) and late subcutaneous atrophy (6/6).

CONCLUSIONS

This study on 16 newborns with SFN provides new information. Familial or newborn risk factors for thrombosis are frequent. Macrosomia, familial dyslipidaemia and smoking should be evaluated. The main complications identified were severe pain, hypercalcaemia and subcutaneous atrophy.

[Etidronate per os in subcutaneous fat necrosis with hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis]

Subcutaneus fat necrosis is an uncommon disease which may be complicated with potentially fatal hypercalcemia. The usual treatment of hypercalcemia includes hyperhydratation, corticosteroids and diet. This treatment is not always effective in normalizing plasma calcium concentration. A treatment with bisphosphonates has been effective in similar cases. We report on the case of a patient presenting with symptomatic hypercalcemia, complicated with nephrocalcinosis consecutive to subcutaneus fat necrosis after birth asphyxia at term. Oral etidronate has been used for 3 weeks, after failure of classical treatment. The evolution was favorable. After a short review of the complications of subcutaneus fat necrosis, we discuss the use of bisphophonates in this indication.

Pamidronate: Treatment for Severe Hypercalcemia in Neonatal Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) of the newborn is an uncommon disorder that occurs in the first weeks of life after foetal distress. It can be complicated by potentially life-threatening hypercalcemia. Treatments of hypercalcemia have included hydration, furosemide and corticosteroids. Only one report has described the use of intravenous bisphosphonates for this condition. We propose that pamidronate could be the first line therapy for severe hypercalcemia in SCFN.

PATIENTS AND RESULTS

Four newborns presented between 2001 and 2004 with SCFN complicated by severe hypercalcemia. At diagnosis, ionized calcium levels were higher than 1.4 mmol/l and were associated with high urinary calcium/creatinine ratios and high 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. Despite treatment with IV fluids, low calcium diet and furosemide, calcium levels remained high. The patients were given 3-4 doses (0.25-0.50 mg/kg/dose) of pamidronate. Urinary calcium/creatinine ratios and calcium levels decreased within 48-96 h. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels normalized with resolution of the skin lesions. No persistent nephrocalcinosis was observed.

CONCLUSION

Pamidronate is effective, well-tolerated in the short-term and obviates the need for prolonged treatment with furosemide and corticosteroids. To prevent nephrocalcinosis, pamidronate might be considered as first line treatment for severe hypercalcemia in SCFN.

Therapeutic approach to selected neonatal eruptions

Management of numerous neonatal eruptions has been modified over the past 10 years. In this article, traditional and developing therapeutic insights are applied to both common and uncommon neonatal conditions.

Pamidronate Treatment for Hypercalcemia in an Infant Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

A 17-day-old infant who was delivered 8 weeks premature underwent small bowel resection for necrotizing enterocolitis. During treatment with continuous infusions of furosemide and hydrocortisone, his total calcium concentration had increased. The calcium dose in his parenteral nutrition solution was decreased and then finally withheld. At 7 weeks of age and after 10 days of calcium-free parenteral nutrition, pamidronate 3 mg (1.1 mg/kg) in 60 ml of normal saline was infused over 6 hours. The infant's total serum calcium concentration decreased, but then 6 days later it had increased again; pamidronate 2 mg (0.7 mg/kg) in 40 ml of normal saline over 4 hours was administered. The patient demonstrated no signs or symptoms of adverse reactions to pamidronate. His serum calcium concentration returned to normal, and calcium-containing parenteral nutrition was tolerated. The use of pamidronate for treatment of hypercalcemia and chronic conditions that affect normal bone growth is increasing in children. Clinical trials in pediatric patients are necessary to determine how best to use bisphosphonates in this patient population.

[Subcutaneous fat necrosis in the newborn: a risk for severe hypercalcemia]

Hypercalcemia associated with subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCN) is a well known but rare event in the newborn. A newborn infant with a history of SCN was admitted because of anorexia, adynamia, polyuria and polydipsia at 6 weeks of age. Serum calcium was markedly increased on admission, while it was normal on the first day of life. Evolution was favourable after treatment including isotonic saline solution, furosemide, corticosteroids, calcitonin and a low calcium and vitamin D diet. Hypercalcemia was severe enough to potentially induces fatal complications in this case. Neonates who develop skin lesions consistent with SCN should be followed-up for possible onset of hypercalcemia and treated in due time. The treatment of hypercalcemia in SCN is reviewed.