Fahr Syndrome Presenting With Status Epilepticus After COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare metabolic disease. In addition to symptoms of hypocalcemia, chronic hypoparathyroidism can result in brain calcifications leading to Fahr syndrome. Hypoparathyroidism most commonly results as a postsurgical complication, with autoimmune disease the second most common etiology. Here we report a 48-year-old man with symptoms of chronic hypocalcemia who presented with status epilepticus following severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In addition to severe hypocalcemia, he was found to have an inappropriately low serum parathyroid hormone level and basal ganglia calcifications visualized on head computed tomography scan. He was treated with intravenous calcium infusion prior to transition to orally administered calcium, calcitriol, and high-dose cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).