Q:

What is the cause of low serum calcium in this lady’s case?

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A 41-year-old female with a history of Graves’ disease is admitted to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment of hypocalcemia. She gives a history of receiving radioactive iodine supplementation for the treatment of her Graves’ disease about 6 years back, when she received dose of 10 millicurie and after 3 months of the ablation patient became hypothyroid and was started on levothyroxine supplementation in a dose of 125 mg per day and henceforth she has been maintaining a normal calcium level. She has no family history of bone and mineral metabolism disorders. She was diagnosed as severe hypocalcemia 1 week back (serum corrected calcium level, 6.7 mg/dL) and referred to our hospital. On admission, her blood pressure is 100/76 mm Hg, and her pulse rate is 68 beats/minute with regular rhythm. Her thyroid gland is barely palpable. Her heart and breathing sounds are clear. Trousseau and Chvostek signs are positive. Chest X-ray is normal. Electrocardiogram shows a prolonged QTc interval (0.49 msec).

What is the cause of low serum calcium in this lady’s case?

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From her clinical course and laboratory findings, we diagnose that her numbness in hands and lip is due to hypocalcemia probably caused by hypoparathyroidism secondary to the radioactive iodine ablation and has been exacerbated by concurrent vitamin D deficiency. The explanation is that if it would have only be contributed by vitamin D deficiency her PTH should have been high and her phosphorus should have been normal or below normal but not high.

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