Related Experiment Videos
Hypercalcemia in infants presenting with apnea
Insights
Apnea in infants is rarely linked to hypercalcemia. This study identified seven infants with apnea and high calcium levels, suggesting plasma calcium testing for infant apnea diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Apnea in infants is a common concern.
- Hypercalcemia is a rare condition in infants.
- A link between infant apnea and hypercalcemia has not been previously established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between apnea and hypercalcemia in infants.
- To describe the clinical characteristics of infants presenting with both conditions.
Main Methods:
- Case series describing seven infants aged 2 days to 3 months with apnea.
- Clinical evaluation including plasma calcium level determination.
- Diagnosis of idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia or familial benign hypercalcemia.
Main Results:
- All seven infants presented with apnea and hypercalcemia.
- Apneic attacks were brief and self-resolving or responsive to stimulation.
- Hypercalcemia was the only consistent abnormal finding.
- Six patients diagnosed with idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia, one with familial benign hypercalcemia.
Conclusions:
- Hypercalcemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infant apnea.
- Plasma calcium level determination is recommended in the workup of infantile apnea.
- This association may provide new insights into the etiology of infant apnea.
Abstract:
To our knowledge apnea in infants has not been associated with hypercalcemia. We describe seven hypercalcemic infants aged 2 days to 3 months who had presented with apnea; six of the seven were otherwise healthy. The apneic attacks were brief, and normal breathing was restored spontaneously or after tactile stimulation. The attacks stopped and the apnea monitoring was discontinued when the children were 1 month to 2 years of age. The only abnormal finding common to all of the patients was hypercalcemia. Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia was diagnosed in six of the patients and familial benign hypercalcemia in one. Our findings suggest that determination of the plasma calcium level be included in the investigation of apnea in infancy.