Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy after parathyroidectomy in a patient with uremia: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Hypocalcemia is a rare, but reversible, cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Although cardiomyopathy may cause severe heart failure, calcium supplementation can reverse heart failure. We report here a patient with uremia and secondary hyperparathyroidism, who was complicated by persistent hypocalcemia and refractory heart failure. The cardiac failure was refractory to treatment with digitalis and diuretics, but dramatically responded to calcium therapy and restoration of normocalcemia. As a result, the patient was eventually diagnosed with hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of this disease to be reported in a patient with uremia. Findings from our case may help clinicians to better understand hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy. Our case might also provide new insight into long-term cardiac complications and prognoses of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism.