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HYPOCALCEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHY - A RARE HEART FAILURE ETIOLOGY IN ADULT

I Parepa1, L Mazilu2, A Suceveanu2

  • 1"Ovidius" University of Constanta, Faculty of Medicine - Constanta, Romania.

Acta Endocrinologica (Bucharest, Romania : 2005)
|June 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Hypoparathyroidism-induced hypocalcemia can cause heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy in adults. Prompt treatment with calcium and vitamin D significantly improves cardiac function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are infrequently linked to hypoparathyroidism-induced hypocalcemia in adults.
  • A 40-year-old female with diabetes and a history of thyroidectomy presented with syncope and heart failure symptoms.

Observation:

  • The patient exhibited signs of severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 15%) and diastolic dysfunction.
  • Initial heart failure treatment provided minimal improvement, while hypocalcemia symptoms (low serum calcium and parathormone) became apparent.

Findings:

  • Serum calcium levels were critically low (total 3.6 mg/dL, ionic 2.2 mg/dL), with suppressed parathormone (10 pg/mL) and elevated phosphatemia (6.4 mg/dL).
  • Parenteral calcium and oral vitamin D therapy led to the resolution of hypocalcemia and significant cardiac function improvement.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a rare cause of heart failure in adults, refractory to standard therapies but responsive to calcium repletion.
  • Awareness of hypoparathyroidism as a potential cause of cardiac dysfunction is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Abstract

Keywords:
dilated cardiomyopathyheart failurehypocalcemiahypoparathyroidism

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