Hypocalcemic cardiac failure in the emergency department

This article reports the case of a 73-year-old man with hypocalcemia-induced heart failure secondary to primary idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Total calcium at the time of presentation was 5.36 mg/dL (1.34 mmol/L). Ventricular function, as documented by echocardiogram, showed improvement with correction of serum calcium levels. Heart failure is rarely observed in patients experiencing hypocalcemia. However, hypocalcemia is reported as a reversible cause of cardiac failure. Hypocalcemia should be considered in patients with heart failure and prolonged QT intervals, particularly those with signs and symptoms such as paresthesias, as it is readily reversible.