Severe infantile hypercalcemia associated with Williams syndrome successfully treated with intravenously administered pamidronate

Pediatrics. 2004 Oct;114(4):1091-5. doi: 10.1542/peds.2003-1146-L.

Abstract

Infantile hypercalcemia occurs in approximately 15% of children with Williams syndrome (WS) and is typically not clinically severe. We report on 3 children with WS (confirmed with fluorescent in situ hybridization probes) who presented with severe symptomatic hypercalcemia. The first patient's severe hypercalcemia resolved with traditional therapies, whereas the subsequent 2 patients were treated with intravenously administered pamidronate after traditional measures proved only partially successful. Besides asymptomatic mild hypocalcemia, there were no complications resulting from pamidronate administration. We conclude that WS-associated hypercalcemia can be quite severe and symptomatic and that it can be successfully and safely treated with intravenously administered bisphosphonate in some cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcium, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology
  • Infant
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Pamidronate
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Williams Syndrome / complications*

Substances

  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Diphosphonates
  • Vitamin D
  • Pamidronate