Background: Chronic hypocalcemia may cause electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and mimic acute myocardial infarction. It has also been associated with reversible cardiac dysfunction. On the other hand cardiomyopathy and heart failure have been reported in patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism or celiac disease. Clinical Case: A 39-year-old male was admitted to the emergency room with acute retrosternal pain and dyspnea. He exhibited severe hypocalcemia and acute renal failure. High creatine kinase (CK) levels did not correlate with biomarkers of myocardial necrosis (negative troponin test, heart type creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) <1% of CK value). The ECG showed an extremely long QT interval (0.6 sec) and T-wave inversions on V 4 through V 6 . The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was as low as 25%, while coronary angiography was normal. Investigation of the hypocalcemia revealed primary hypoparathyroidism (Parathyroid hormone (PTH) <3 pg/ml) and concomitant celiac disease with positive antigliadin and endomysial antibodies. The cardiovascular episodes and the dilated heart failure were attributed to the chronic hypocalcemia since no other cause was found. The correction of hypocalcemia has not been sufficient to reverse the end-stage heart failure after more than 6 months of treatment, even though ECG abnormalities have receded, implying permanent cardiac impairment. Conclusion: This case demonstrates an unusual clinical condition where 2 calcium homeostasis disorders led to severe hypocalcemia with clinical manifestations of end-stage heart failure. The severe cardiac failure appeared to be nonreversible after calcium repletion suggesting permanent cardiac muscle dysfunction due to associated cardiomyopathy.
IntroductionSevere chronic hypocalcemia may predominantly be presented with paresthesias, neuromuscular irritability, and tetany, but can sometimes manifest cardiovascular complications like hypotension, myocardial dysfunction, prolongation of the QT interval, and triggered dysrhythmias like torsades de pointes, decreased myocardial performance, and even heart failure.1 Hypocalcemia induced heart failure (or hypocalcemic heart failure) has been associated with various clinical entities like idiopathic or postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, and celiac disease. 2,3,4 The symptoms are often misleading and, consequently, endocrine causes of heart failure are sometimes overlooked.The case of a 39-year-old man, who upon evaluation for clinical acute myocardial syndrome and end-stage heart failure was diagnosed with primary hypoparathyroidismand celiac disease, is presented and the role of these diseases in heart function is discussed.