Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo
Published on: May 16, 2020
A surprising cause of reversible dilated cardiomyopathy
Mariska Vlot1, Margriet de Jong2, Pim de Ronde1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Kennemer Gasthuis Hospital, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
This case report describes two cases of dilated cardiomyopathy due to hypocalcaemia as a result of hypoparathyroidism. Patient A suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy due to secondary hypoparathyroidism as a result of previous neck surgery. Patient B suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure due to primary hypoparathyroidism. Hypoparathyroidism can exist for years before being recognised, especially after neck surgery. Besides standard treatment of heart failure, restoration of serum calcium levels with calcium and vitamin D supplementation can lead to rapid improvement of cardiac function and should be continued lifelong. Both patients were responding very well to heart failure therapy and calcium supplementation as ejection fraction improved after restoration of plasma calcium levels. This case report emphasises that hypocalcaemia should be in the differential diagnosis of heart failure.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

