Severe Hypercalcemia in Oliguric Phase of Acute Renal Failure Associated with Rhabdomyolysis

Lim, Su Jin; Lee, Seung Hee; Moon, Chang Ki; Jung, Jun Oh; Park, Sang Joon; Kim, Yun Kwon; Kim, So Yon; Kim, Young Jung; Cho, Min Koo; Lee, Gwon Jun

Abstract

Hypercalcemia rarely develops in patients with acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis. If hypercalcemia occurs, it happens mostly in diuretic phase and rarely in oliguric phase. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, abnormal metabolism of Vitamin D, immobilization of patient, and release of calcium from injured muscle are considered as possible pathogenetic mechanisms of hypercalcemia in acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis. Among them, dissolution of calcium from injured muscle into extracellular fluid is accepted as the major mechanism of pathogenesis of hypercalcemia. A twenty year old male patient, combat policeman, developed syncope in the course of regular physical training. He was diagnosed of acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis at the hospital he initially visited. After being subjected to three sessions of acute hemodialysis, he was transferred to our hospital. During the treatment, laboratory test was performed upon his continuous complaints of lower extremity weakness. It showed severe hypercalcemia with plasma calcium level of 17.6 mg/dL. He was in oliguric phase at the time of this severe hypercalcemia. Patient's lower extremity weakness was gradually improved by hemodialysis using low calcium dialysate. He was discharged after his renal function became normal. He has been followed on regular basis.