Increased 1,25-(OH)2D2 concentration in a patient with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia receiving intravenous...

A 55-year-old patient with hypercalcemic crisis due to gastric carcinoma with bone marrow metastasis was treated with bisphosphonate (pamidronate) and calcitonin. Urinary excretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) was increased. When normocalcemia had been attained, intravenous hyperalimentation was started, in which 1,000 U vitamin D2 was inadvertently supplemented on days 5-18, On days 15-18, hypercalcemia rapidly recurred, accompanied by markedly increased serum levels of 25-OHD2 (9.1 ng/dl) and 1,25-(OH)2D2 (161 pg/ml). This clinical course suggests that PTHrP, like PTH, stimulated 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity and produced excessive 1,25-(OH)2D2. Vitamin D should not be administered to patients with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, particularly that due to PTHrP-producing tumors.