Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia

An 82-year-old man treated with phenytoin for the prevention of symptomatic epilepsy was hospitalized to treat consciousness disturbance, seizure, and hypocalcemia (serum calcium: 4.6 mg/dL). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was very low (5.4 ng/mL), whereas serum calcitriol level was normal (27 pg/m...

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Main Authors: Seishi Aihara, Shunsuke Yamada, Mika Kondo, Hideaki Oka, Taro Kamimura, Atsumi Harada, Toshiaki Nakano, Kazuhiko Tsuruya, Takanari Kitazono
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Nephrology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3653276
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author Seishi Aihara
Shunsuke Yamada
Mika Kondo
Hideaki Oka
Taro Kamimura
Atsumi Harada
Toshiaki Nakano
Kazuhiko Tsuruya
Takanari Kitazono
author_facet Seishi Aihara
Shunsuke Yamada
Mika Kondo
Hideaki Oka
Taro Kamimura
Atsumi Harada
Toshiaki Nakano
Kazuhiko Tsuruya
Takanari Kitazono
author_sort Seishi Aihara
collection DOAJ
description An 82-year-old man treated with phenytoin for the prevention of symptomatic epilepsy was hospitalized to treat consciousness disturbance, seizure, and hypocalcemia (serum calcium: 4.6 mg/dL). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was very low (5.4 ng/mL), whereas serum calcitriol level was normal (27 pg/mL) and serum intact parathyroid hormone level was increased (369 pg/mL). He was finally diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency associated with low sunlight exposure and long-term phenytoin use for symptomatic epilepsy: phenytoin is shown to accelerate catabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Combination treatment with eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol ointments successfully normalized corrected serum calcium level: both eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol are vitamin D receptor activators used for osteoporosis and psoriasis, respectively. Our case illustrates the importance of periodic serum calcium level monitoring in patients receiving anti-epileptic drugs and the usefulness of eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol ointment as a therapeutic option for hypocalcemia, especially in countries where native vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D are not available.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6641
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publishDate 2019-01-01
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series Case Reports in Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-aa986a3c10d64dcbac9f7e16a0a72dbd2025-08-20T03:39:35ZengWileyCase Reports in Nephrology2090-66412090-665X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/36532763653276Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for HypocalcemiaSeishi Aihara0Shunsuke Yamada1Mika Kondo2Hideaki Oka3Taro Kamimura4Atsumi Harada5Toshiaki Nakano6Kazuhiko Tsuruya7Takanari Kitazono8Kidney Center, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, JapanDepartment of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, JapanKidney Center, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, JapanKidney Center, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, JapanKidney Center, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, JapanKidney Center, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, JapanDepartment of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, Nara Medical University, Nara, JapanDepartment of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, JapanAn 82-year-old man treated with phenytoin for the prevention of symptomatic epilepsy was hospitalized to treat consciousness disturbance, seizure, and hypocalcemia (serum calcium: 4.6 mg/dL). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was very low (5.4 ng/mL), whereas serum calcitriol level was normal (27 pg/mL) and serum intact parathyroid hormone level was increased (369 pg/mL). He was finally diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency associated with low sunlight exposure and long-term phenytoin use for symptomatic epilepsy: phenytoin is shown to accelerate catabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Combination treatment with eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol ointments successfully normalized corrected serum calcium level: both eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol are vitamin D receptor activators used for osteoporosis and psoriasis, respectively. Our case illustrates the importance of periodic serum calcium level monitoring in patients receiving anti-epileptic drugs and the usefulness of eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol ointment as a therapeutic option for hypocalcemia, especially in countries where native vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D are not available.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3653276
spellingShingle Seishi Aihara
Shunsuke Yamada
Mika Kondo
Hideaki Oka
Taro Kamimura
Atsumi Harada
Toshiaki Nakano
Kazuhiko Tsuruya
Takanari Kitazono
Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
Case Reports in Nephrology
title Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
title_full Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
title_fullStr Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
title_full_unstemmed Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
title_short Severe Hypocalcemia and Resulting Seizure Caused by Vitamin D Deficiency in an Older Patient Receiving Phenytoin: Eldecalcitol and Maxacalcitol Ointment as Potential Therapeutic Options for Hypocalcemia
title_sort severe hypocalcemia and resulting seizure caused by vitamin d deficiency in an older patient receiving phenytoin eldecalcitol and maxacalcitol ointment as potential therapeutic options for hypocalcemia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3653276
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