Hypercalcaemia and hypokalaemia in tuberculosis

Abstract

In two patients with extensive pulmonary tuberculosis who developed hypercalcaemia and hypokalaemia the hypercalcaemia appeared related to the use of small doses of vitamin D, which suggested patients with tuberculosis were hypersensitive to vitamin D. They were thus similar to patients with sarcoidosis, and it is interesting that the Kveim test result was positive in both cases. The hypercalcaemia was quickly suppressed with steroids. Hyperparathyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, Addison's disease, and multiple myeloma were excluded on clinical grounds and by the appropriate tests. The hypokalaemia was associated with increased renal excretion of potassium, and was probably due to distal tubular damage from hypercalcaemia.