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Disodium pamidronate for treating severe hypercalcemia in a hemodialysis patient

Abstract

Background A 48-year-old man with a recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma and rapidly progressive oliguric end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis, presented with a serum calcium concentration of 3.4 mmol/l (13.6 mg/dl).

Investigations Serum laboratory analysis, electroencephalogram, MRI of the brain and bone marrow, and kidney biopsies.

Diagnosis Hypercalcemia secondary to multiple myeloma.

Management Short-term intravenous disodium pamidronate therapy (30 mg daily) and daily monitoring of serum calcium concentration.

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Figure 1: Decrease in the patient's serum calcium levels after disodium pamidronate administration.

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Correspondence to Hernán Trimarchi.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Trimarchi, H., Lombi, F., Forrester, M. et al. Disodium pamidronate for treating severe hypercalcemia in a hemodialysis patient. Nat Rev Nephrol 2, 459–463 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneph0248

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneph0248

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