title: Creutzfeldt-Jakob-Like Syndrome due to Hypercalcemic Encephalopathy.
abstract: Hypercalcemia can cause a subacute syndrome of progressive dementia and marked changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG). We report a case of iatrogenic hypercalcemia with a close correlation between the clinical course and the EEG changes. A 73-year-old woman presented with a subacute syndrome of progressive dementia and bursts of 1.5 to 2 Hz intermittent rhythmic delta activity superimposed on a low-voltage background activity in the EEG. Clinical and EEG abnormalities rapidly resolved after normalization of serum calcium levels. As part of the diagnostic workup of a subacute progressive dementia, a serum calcium level and an EEG should be obtained to detect a Creutzfeldt-Jakob like syndrome in hypercalcemia. Unlike in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob-like syndrome induced by lithium intoxication, there are rarely myoclonic jerks and periodic discharges in hypercalcemic encephalopathy.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany johannes.roesche@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Rösche
authors: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors: Catharina
authors: C
authors: Sieveking
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Kampf
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors: Reiner
authors: R
authors: Benecke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Creutzfeldt-Jakob–like syndrome; delta bursts; hypercalcemia; intermittent rhythmic delta activity; progressive dementia