Hypercalcaemia in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hypercalcaemia is a common electrolyte abnormality. The vast majority of patients will be shown to have either hyperparathyroidism or malignancy. In less than 10% of patients other, less common causes of hypercalcaemia will be present. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a very rare cause of hypercalcaemia. It may be associated with lymphadenopathy and pleuritis to constitute a distinct clinical entity described as 'hypercalcaemia-lymphoedema syndrome'. In these cases the pathophysiology of the hypercalcaemia is not completely understood. In some cases it is associated with elevated levels of parathyroid-related peptide (PTHrP). In others the level of PTHrP is normal, and it has been suggested that autoantibodies may cause hypercalcaemia by activating the PTH receptor. We describe a case of a woman who presented with severe hypercalcaemia, developed the hypercalcaemia-lymphodema syndrome and fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Berar-Yanay
N
N
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel.
Weiner
P
P
Magadle
R
R
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011507:Proteinuria
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins