[Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy as the cause of severe left heart failure]

A 25-year-old man was hospitalized because of dyspnoea and retrosternal pain. There were clinical and radiological signs of severe left ventricular failure which within a few hours necessitated artificial ventilation. A year before he had been diagnosed as having pseudohyperparathyroidism and disseminated encephalomyelitis. Administration of calcium and vitamin D was only partially efficacious. On admission the calcium concentration was 1.5 mmol/l. The severe left ventricular failure did not respond adequately to the usual therapeutic measures including artificial ventilation and catecholamines. A cumulative dose of about 50 mmol calcium was administered intravenously over 10 days, but marked improvement in myocardial function already became apparent at a calcium concentration of about 1.8 mmol/l. Lasting correction of the hypocalcaemia was achieved with 0.5 g calcium three times daily by mouth and 0.5 mg/d dihydrotachysterol. After transfer to a special neurological department because of an acute attack of multiple sclerosis there was no detectable impairment of cardiac function. This case demonstrates that hypocalcaemic cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of heart failure in previously well young persons who do not respond adequately to the usual treatment. Myocardial impairment is fully reversible after administration of calcium.