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Isolation of Mouse Interstitial Valve Cells to Study the Calcification of the Aortic Valve In Vitro
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Acute hypercalcemia of the heart ("bony heart")

R Kloeppel1, P Luebke, M Mittag

  • 1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Leipzig, Germany. kloeppr@medizin.uni-leizpig.de

Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
|May 15, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A patient with kidney failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism developed severe myocardial calcification and heart failure after a kidney transplant. This case highlights a rare, fatal complication of hypercalcemia.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Cardiac abnormalities are common in hyperparathyroidism.
  • Patients with chronic kidney disease often develop secondary hyperparathyroidism.
  • Long-term hemodialysis can lead to complications like hypercalcemia.

Observation:

  • A 30-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism underwent kidney transplantation.
  • Post-transplant, she experienced progressive heart failure.
  • Imaging revealed a nearly white heart, and autopsy showed extensive myocardial calcification.

Findings:

  • The patient's heart weighed 590g with a bony texture due to widespread myocardial calcification.
  • Histology confirmed extensive calcification throughout the myocardium.
  • This calcification led to fatal heart failure.

Implications:

  • This case illustrates a rare and fatal consequence of severe hypercalcemia in patients with kidney disease.
  • It underscores the importance of managing calcium and parathyroid hormone levels.
  • "Malignant" progression of calciphylaxis post-transplantation is a critical concern.

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