Immobilization-associated hypercalcaemia in patients with malignancy in the hospital setting

Immobilization associated hypercalcemiaTo the Editor, Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH) is encountered in 10-30% of patients with cancer and is associated with poor prognosis [1].Direct bone invasion (primary bone cancer, bone metastasis, or multiple myeloma) and humoral hypercalcemia, i.e., mediated by elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH), PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) and calcitriol are the main etiologies [2].Although a significant proportion of patients with malignancy have poor functional status, immobilization-associated hypercalcemia (Immob-HCa) is not well recognized in this population.Thus, we examined the relative contribution of Immob-HCa to all causes of MAH in the hospital setting.