Acute renal injury secondary to hypercalcemic crisis: a case report

Acute renal injury is a complex clinical entity, characterized by the abrupt worsening in renal function. Hypercalcemia as its etiology is rare. The mechanisms involved in its development are multiple and rarely studied. The case of a 59-year-old male patient who developed a severe acute renal failure as a complication of an hypercalcemic crisis due to a parathyroid adenoma is presented here. Alterations in markers of damage and renal function were observed. Urinary biochemistry showed acute tubular necrosis. Calcium, parathormone and urine calcium levels were associated with endocrinopathy. The ultrasound, the scintigraphy and the parathyroid biopsy showed the presence of an adenoma. There were other concomitant systemic complications such as pancreatitis and cardiac complications. Hemodialysis was the palliative treatment, while the definitive treatment was parathyroidectomy. The hungry bone syndrome occurred as a postoperative complication. After discharge, recovery of renal function was never complete. Acute renal damage associated with systemic dysfunction due to hypercalcemia can lead to a partial recovery of renal function. The development of chronic kidney disease after acute renal failure due to hypercalcemia should be considered one of its complications.