Hungry bone syndrome two weeks after starting cinacalcet: a call for caution.

Authors

Sahar H Koubar
Abd Assalam Qannus, Maine Medical Center
Walid Medawar
Ali K Abu-Alfa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2018

Institution/Department

Nephrology, Internal Medicine

Journal Title

CEN case reports

Abstract

Cinacalcet is an effective and safe alternative to parathyroidectomy in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Hypocalcemia is a known complication of treatment that is usually readily reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. It rarely manifests severely and symptomatically requiring hospital admission. We present the case of a 55 year old man with severe, symptomatic and prolonged hypocalcemia that occurred 2 weeks after starting cinacalcet. Cinacalcet induced a state of pharmacological parathyroidectomy with subsequent hungry bone syndrome. Serum calcium returned to normal range after 4 weeks of stopping the drug while receiving high doses of elemental calcium and vitamin D receptor activation therapy (VDRA).

ISSN

2192-4449

First Page

21

Last Page

23

Recommended Citation

Koubar, Sahar H; Qannus, Abd Assalam; Medawar, Walid; and Abu-Alfa, Ali K, "Hungry bone syndrome two weeks after starting cinacalcet: a call for caution." (2018). Maine Medical Center. 426.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/426