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Infants with dilated cardiomyopathy and hypocalcemia.
Debmalya Sanyal1, Moutusi Raychaudhuri
1Department of Endocrinology, KPC Medical College and RTIICS, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
|November 20, 2013
Summary
Hypocalcemia, a rare condition, can cause dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure in infants. Supplementation with vitamin D and calcium effectively treated these infants, reversing their cardiac symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and congestive heart failure are serious conditions in infants.
- Hypocalcemia is a recognized but rare cause of cardiac dysfunction.
- Few cases of hypocalcemia-induced DCM in infants have been reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on a cohort of infants presenting with DCM and congestive heart failure due to hypocalcemia.
- To highlight vitamin D deficiency as the underlying cause of hypocalcemia in these cases.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in treating this condition.
Main Methods:
- Case series describing 12 infants with DCM and congestive heart failure.
- Diagnostic workup included assessment for hypocalcemia.
- Etiological investigation identified vitamin D deficiency as the cause of hypocalcemia.
Main Results:
- All 12 infants presented with symptoms of DCM and congestive heart failure.
- Hypocalcemia was diagnosed in all infants.
- Vitamin D deficiency was identified as the cause of hypocalcemia in all cases.
- Infants showed significant clinical improvement following supplementation with vitamin D and calcium.
Conclusions:
- Hypocalcemia, particularly due to vitamin D deficiency, is a potentially reversible cause of DCM and heart failure in infants.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment with calcium and vitamin D can lead to recovery of cardiac function.
- This underscores the importance of considering metabolic causes in pediatric heart failure.
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