Key result
Normalization of serum calcium levels with calcium supplementation completely resolved heart failure symptoms and improved left ventricular ejection fraction from 43% to 53% in a patient with hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
Hypocalcemia manifesting as heart failure in postsurgical hypoparathyroidism is rare, with few cases reported in the literature.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights that hypocalcemia is a rare but reversible cause of heart failure, and normalization of serum calcium is essential for restoring cardiac function in hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy.
Hypocalcemia and its related symptoms are common manifestations in postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, but patients with hypocalcemia manifested as heart failure is rare and few cases are reported in the literature. Here we reported a 58-year-old female with hypoparathyroidism and uncontrolled hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy, presented with acute heart failure, accompanied with enlargement and reduced ejection fraction of left ventricle. She was refractory to guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure including digitalis and diuretics. However, her symptoms resolved and cardiac function improved dramatically after normalization of serum calcium level. This rare case highlights the pivotal role of calcium in maintaining cardiac function and the importance of treating underlying reversible causes of heart failure. For patients with hypoparathyroidism, it is essential to get standard treatment to avoid development of heart failure and hypocalcemia related syndromes.
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Wen et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy (n=1). Calcium supplementation was evaluated on Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Normalization of serum calcium levels with calcium supplementation completely resolved heart failure symptoms and improved left ventricular ejection fraction from 43% to 53% in a patient with hypocalcemic cardiomyopathy.
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