# The Hidden Dangers of Hypercalcemia: A Case Report of Undiagnosed Symptoms Leading to Complications

**Authors:** Ana Filipa Silva, Francisco Belchior, Francisco Pombo, Lindora Pires

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.78631 · Cureus · 2025-02-06

## TL;DR

A 75-year-old woman's severe hypercalcemia was diagnosed after experiencing multiple symptoms, and treatment successfully resolved her condition.

## Contribution

This case highlights the importance of diagnosing undetected hypercalcemia to prevent complications.

## Key findings

- The patient exhibited severe hypercalcemia with normal renal function and elevated PTH levels.
- Treatment with fluid therapy and zoledronic acid resolved the patient's symptoms effectively.
- The case underscores the varied and non-specific symptoms of hypercalcemia.

## Abstract

Hypercalcemia is a relatively common metabolic abnormality; however, it is frequently undiagnosed. It often manifests with neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, renal, and musculoskeletal symptoms. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with a history of syncope, anorexia, asthenia, weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, visual hallucinations, confusion, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and depression. Laboratory workup revealed severe hypercalcemia (ionized calcium: 1.81 mmol/L) with normal renal function and significantly elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. A diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism was made, and the patient was treated with fluid therapy and zoledronic acid, resulting in the resolution of the symptoms.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** zoledronic acid (PubChem CID 68740)
- **Diseases:** hypercalcemia (MONDO:0001566), primary hyperparathyroidism (MONDO:0010837), depression (MONDO:0002050)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** PTH (parathyroid hormone) [NCBI Gene 5741] {aka FIH1, PTH1}
- **Diseases:** anorexia (MESH:D000855), visual hallucinations (MESH:D006212), tonic-clonic seizures (MESH:D012640), Hypercalcemia (MESH:D006934), polyuria (MESH:D011141), syncope (MESH:D013575), confusion (MESH:D003221), neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, renal, and musculoskeletal symptoms (MESH:D009140), weight loss (MESH:D015431), polydipsia (MESH:D059606), asthenia (MESH:D001247), primary hyperparathyroidism (MESH:D049950), depression (MESH:D003866), metabolic abnormality (MESH:D008659)
- **Chemicals:** calcium (MESH:D002118), zoledronic acid (MESH:D000077211)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## References

11 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11890102/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11890102