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Case Reports
. 2022 Apr 5:77:103572.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103572. eCollection 2022 May.

Hypocalcemia as a cause of reversible heart failure: A case report and review of the literature

Dana H Baqi  1   2 , Shaho F Ahmed  2 , Hiwa O Baba  2   3 , Fattah H Fattah  1   2 , Abdulwahid M Salih  1   2 , Rawa M Ali  2 , Darko H Amin H Saed  2 , Fahmi H Kakamad  1   2   3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Hypocalcemia as a cause of reversible heart failure: A case report and review of the literature

Dana H Baqi et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Introduction: In both pediatric and adult populations, hypocalcemia-induced heart failure is an extremely rare presentation. The aim of the current study is to report a case of reversible heart failure caused by severe hypocalcemia resulting from hypoparathyroidism, which was resolved by correcting the serum calcium level.

Case report: A 29-year-old female presented with orthopnea, dyspnea on mild exertion, and bilateral lower limb swelling. She had a positive Trousseau's sign. Vital signs were stable except for tachycardia. On chest auscultation, there were bilateral basal fine inspiratory crackles. She was immediately treated as a case of pulmonary edema with intravenous furosemide and oxygen therapy. Subsequent treatment for correcting the hypocalcemia was then initiated.

Discussion: Hypocalcemia has been proven to influence cardiac function, resulting in lower cardiac contractility as determined by decreased left ventricular work index, stroke index, and cardiac index. In rare circumstances, the clinical, biochemical (elevation of cardiac enzymes), electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic data may lead to an incorrect diagnosis of an acute ischemic attack.

Conclusion: Hypocalcemia as a possible factor leading to heart failure should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all individuals with congestive heart failure.

Keywords: Cardiomyopathy; Heart failure; Hypocalcemia; Left ventricular ejection fraction; Prolonged QT interval.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to be declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The electrocardiogram (ECG) showing prolongation of the QT interval and T inversion in leads V1 to V4.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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