Hypercalcemic crisis as a prodromal feature of Pneumcystis jirovecii pneumonia

Abstract

We describe a patient who had developed hypercalcemic crisis, with altered mental status and renal failure, one year following aggressive corticosteroid-therapy for lupus nephritis. Her disease relapsed after successful live-related kidney transplantation 11 years ago. She had normal parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D yet high 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. Four weeks later, she developed severe dyspnea and hypoxia with a reticulonodular pattern on chest computed tomography. Bacteriological and serological tests were negative for pathogens. However, bronchoalveolar lavage established the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jiroviceii pneumonia (PJP). Her pneumonia and hypercalcemia improved with Co-trimoxazole. The case indicates that severe hypercalcemia can herald PJP.