Spurious hypocalcemia after gadodiamide administration

Abstract

Severe hypocalcemia may require prompt intervention to avoid life-threatening consequences. We report a case in which a 78-year-old man had a critically low seram calcium level measured with use of standard colorimetric assay after gadodiamide administration during magnetic resonance angiography. Reanalysls of the same serum specimen using absorption spectroscopy revealed normal calcium values, confirming the diagnosis of spurious hypocalcemia. The increasing use of gadolinium chelates during magnetic resonance imaging and angiography will lead to a marked increase in reports of critically low serum calcium values. Increasing physicians' awareness of gadodiamide-induced spurious hypocalcemia may prevent unnecessary and potentially inappropriate therapeutic interventions. © 2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.