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Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
11:00

Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Published on: September 18, 2017

[Reversible hypokinetic cardiomyopathy revealing severe hypocalcemia]

J C Charniot1, A Alexeeva, S Laurent

  • 1Service de cardiologie, hôpital Avicenne, 125, route de Stalingrad, 93009 Bobigny.

Archives Des Maladies Du Coeur Et Des Vaisseaux
|August 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Severe hypocalcemia due to primary hypoparathyroidism can cause dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure. Treatment of hypocalcemia can reverse cardiac dysfunction, highlighting this biochemical abnormality as a treatable cause of heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is often idiopathic or secondary to toxins or infections.
  • Biochemical abnormalities are less common causes of DCM.
  • Primary hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient parathyroid hormone production.

Observation:

  • A 58-year-old woman presented with new-onset cardiac failure.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus tachycardia and a prolonged QT interval (560 ms).
  • Echocardiography showed dilated hypokinetic cardiomyopathy with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (20%).

Findings:

  • Aetiological investigation identified severe hypocalcemia (0.66 mmol/L).
  • The hypocalcemia was attributed to primary hypoparathyroidism.
  • This biochemical abnormality was the underlying cause of the cardiac dysfunction.

Implications:

  • Primary hypoparathyroidism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • Correction of hypocalcemia can lead to significant improvement or resolution of cardiac disease.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of hypoparathyroidism can prevent irreversible cardiac damage.

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