Revista de sangre y linfa

Hypocalcemia Induced Severe Heart Insufficiency and Visual Acuity Impairment-Will Calcium Supplementation Improve Heart and Eye Function?

Abstract

Dragan R Vukovic and Sanja M Petrovic Pajic

Introduction: Hypocalcemia is a potentially life-threatening biochemical disorder often misdiagnosed and mistreated.

Case report: A case of a female patient with unilateral visual acuity drop, significant neurological and cardiologic problems caused by severe hypocalcemia is presented. Supplementation therapy led to withdrawal of neurological symptoms, improvement of the heart function and stabilization of the left eye visual acuity. Right eye visual acuity was excellent with occasional drops correlating to low serum calcium level.

Discussion: Physicians should be aware of hypocalcemia because time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis averages ten years and adequate treatment can prevent severe eye, heart and neurological complications. Hopefully, this case would be instructive for future medical practice, especially for recognition and treatment of the extremely rare case of unilateral hypocalcemia-induced optic neuritis.