Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series

This is a case series of recurrent hypocalcemic tetany as the initial presentation in some cases of hyperthyroidism. Literature review has revealed more reports of hypercalcemia than hypocalcemia as a feature of hyperthyroidism. The recurrence of hypocalcemic tetany in the 3 cases reported ceased fo...

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Main Authors: Yakubu Lawal, Umar Faruk Dahuwa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Felicia Ehusani Anumah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Knowledge E 2021-07-01
Series:Dubai Diabetes and Endocrinology Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517482
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author Yakubu Lawal
Umar Faruk Dahuwa
Ibrahim Abdullahi
Felicia Ehusani Anumah
author_facet Yakubu Lawal
Umar Faruk Dahuwa
Ibrahim Abdullahi
Felicia Ehusani Anumah
author_sort Yakubu Lawal
collection DOAJ
description This is a case series of recurrent hypocalcemic tetany as the initial presentation in some cases of hyperthyroidism. Literature review has revealed more reports of hypercalcemia than hypocalcemia as a feature of hyperthyroidism. The recurrence of hypocalcemic tetany in the 3 cases reported ceased following the treatment of hyperthyroidism. The aim of this case series is to alert clinicians to the fact that hypocalcemic tetany can be the initial clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism. It also highlights the resilience of managing endocrine patients in resource-poor settings with the aid of high clinical acumen and fewer-than-expected laboratory investigations. Further research is needed to investigate our hypothesis that disordered calcium metabolism in thyrotoxicosis may manifest in successive phases of hypercalcemia-normocalcemia-hypocalcemia. The rate at which individual thyrotoxic patient traverses these phases may be directly proportional to the background vitamin D deficiency, negative calcium balance, and bone mineral density.
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spelling doaj-art-e380eced44a644a7bb6c7c308ec2be342025-08-20T02:44:07ZengKnowledge EDubai Diabetes and Endocrinology Journal2673-17972673-17382021-07-01272667010.1159/000517482517482Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case SeriesYakubu Lawal0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2210-2601Umar Faruk Dahuwa1Ibrahim Abdullahi2Felicia Ehusani Anumah3Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center Azare, Azare, NigeriaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center Azare, Azare, NigeriaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Center Azare, Azare, NigeriaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, NigeriaThis is a case series of recurrent hypocalcemic tetany as the initial presentation in some cases of hyperthyroidism. Literature review has revealed more reports of hypercalcemia than hypocalcemia as a feature of hyperthyroidism. The recurrence of hypocalcemic tetany in the 3 cases reported ceased following the treatment of hyperthyroidism. The aim of this case series is to alert clinicians to the fact that hypocalcemic tetany can be the initial clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism. It also highlights the resilience of managing endocrine patients in resource-poor settings with the aid of high clinical acumen and fewer-than-expected laboratory investigations. Further research is needed to investigate our hypothesis that disordered calcium metabolism in thyrotoxicosis may manifest in successive phases of hypercalcemia-normocalcemia-hypocalcemia. The rate at which individual thyrotoxic patient traverses these phases may be directly proportional to the background vitamin D deficiency, negative calcium balance, and bone mineral density.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517482hyperthyroidismhypocalcemiatetany
spellingShingle Yakubu Lawal
Umar Faruk Dahuwa
Ibrahim Abdullahi
Felicia Ehusani Anumah
Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
Dubai Diabetes and Endocrinology Journal
hyperthyroidism
hypocalcemia
tetany
title Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
title_full Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
title_fullStr Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
title_full_unstemmed Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
title_short Recurrent Hypocalcemic Tetany as the Initial Presentation in Some Persons with Hyperthyroidism: A Case Series
title_sort recurrent hypocalcemic tetany as the initial presentation in some persons with hyperthyroidism a case series
topic hyperthyroidism
hypocalcemia
tetany
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/517482
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AT ibrahimabdullahi recurrenthypocalcemictetanyastheinitialpresentationinsomepersonswithhyperthyroidismacaseseries
AT feliciaehusanianumah recurrenthypocalcemictetanyastheinitialpresentationinsomepersonswithhyperthyroidismacaseseries