title: Severe Hypercalcemia in a Child With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse: Successful Management With Combination of Calcitonin and Bisphosphonate.
abstract: Hypercalcemia is a rare complication of hematological malignancy in children. An 8-year-old girl with CALLA (+) Pre-B-cell ALL developed hypercalcemia during bone marrow relapse. She had nausea, vomiting, leg pain, polyuria, polydipsia, and muscle weakness. At the time of relapse, the ionized calcium level was 1.99 mmol/L. Rehydration with 0.9% saline and furosemide and methylprednisolone (MP) treatment were used for the treatment of hypercalcemia. The serum ionized calcium level increased to 2.2 mmol/L despite hydration, furosemide, and MP treatment. Then, a single-dose pamidronate (1 mg/kg/dose) was administered. Despite pamidronate treatment, the calcium level continued to rise. Next, calcitonin at a dose of 8 IU/kg/dose, 4 doses per day, was added to the treatment. After commencement of calcitonin treatment, her ionized calcium level decreased to normal reference ranges. In conclusion, because of the postponed effect of bisphosphonate treatment, pamidronate and calcitonin combination is an effective treatment option in the early resolution of malignancy-related hypercalcemia.
authors.affiliation: *Pediatric Hematology Unit †Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Anar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagiyev
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demirbilek
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tavil
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buyukyilmaz
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gumruk
authors.forename: Mualla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications*; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D002116:Calcitonin