All issues > Volume 38(9); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(9):1193-1200. Published online September 15, 1995.

Clinical Observations of Transient Idiopathic Hypocalcemia

Jeong Nyun JN Kim¹, Mi Jung MJ Park², Duk Hi DH Kim², Ho Sung HS Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: In concern of diagnosis and treatment of transient idiopathic hypocalcemia, a major cause of infantile, we studied the onset of age, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and duration of treatment and recovery of transient idiopathic hypocalcemia.
Methods
: The author observed 19 infants with transient idiopathic hypocalcemia who had been admitted to Yonsei university hospital due to convulsion for 4 year period from November 1990 by retrospective analysis of medical records.
Results
: 1) Sex and age incidence of infants with transient idiopathic hypocalcemia showed male preponderance of 95%(18 of 19). 9 patients were 1 to 2 month of age(47%), 9 patients were 2 to 3 month of age(47%) and 1 patients was 5 month of age(5%) 2) By perinatal history, all patients were born in full term with normal birth weight (above 2500gm), 6 patients were twins (32%) and had no history of perinatal asphyxia. 3) 15 patients were milk-fed(79%) and 4 patients were breast- fed(21%). 4) All patients manifested irritability and convulsion on which 12 patients showed generalized tonic-clonic convulsion(63%), 5 patients showed generalized tonic convulsion(26%) and 1 patient showed focal convulsion(5%). 5) Blood calcium concentration was decreased to 5.60.9mg/dl, blood ionized calcium concentration was decreased to 2.50.4mg/dl, blood phosphorus concentration increased to 8.02.3mg/dl, blood magnesium concentration was 1.70.3mg/dl and blood parathyroid hormone concentration was increased to 15886 pg/dl. 6) The period that blood calcium level recovered to normal range (above 8.5mg/dl) by administration of calcium and Vit D was 198 days and period to maintain normal calcium range after cessation of treatment was 3711 days.
Conclusion
: In transient idiopathic hypocalcemia, we concluded that parathyroid hormone secretion was increased to compensate hypocalcemia and that hypocalcemia was corrected after 3711 days. As the exact pathogenesis of transient idiopathic hypocalcemia is not fully understood, more studies are required about the mechanism of patients is required in possibility of permanent idiopathic hypoparathyroidism after several months to years.

Keywords :Transient Idiopathic Hypocalcemia