Hypercalcemia in patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis in Abuja, Nigeria

The prevalence of hypercalcemia has not previously been determined in newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) patients in Nigeria.

To determine the incidence of hypercalcemia in Nigerian patients with newly diagnosed TB before the commencement of anti-TB treatment.

The present study is a prospective examination of consecutive patients with newly diagnosed TB confirmed by bacteriological and/or histological methods at the National Hospital (Abuja, Nigeria) from January 2004 to December 2004.

Of 120 patients (70 males and 50 females), 70 had pulmonary TB, 10 had pulmonary and pleural TB, 20 had pleural TB without radiographic evidence of lung involvement, 18 had various other forms of extrapulmonary TB and two had disseminated TB. The mean age of the patients was 38.3+/-12.0 years. The mean albumin-adjusted serum calcium concentration was 2.53+/-0.22 mmol/L. Hypercalcemia was present in 27.5% of the patients, but only 12% of these patients showed symptoms of hypercalcemia. The type of TB and, in the case of pulmonary TB, the extent of lung involvement, had no effect on the serum calcium concentration.

Hypercalcemia is not uncommon among Nigerian patients with newly diagnosed TB, but it is rarely symptomatic.