Vitamin D-mediated hypercalcemia as the initial manifestation of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an HIV-uninfected patient

Intern Med. 2012;51(13):1793-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7453. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Abstract

Hypercalcemia has been described in variety of granulomatous diseases and fungal infections. However, hypercalcemia in pulmonary cryptococcosis is rarely disclosed. We report a 57-year-old HIV-uninfected woman with diabetes, who initially presented with altered mental status, severe hypercalcemia with increased serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D] concentration and suppressed parathyroid hormone. Pulmonary cryptococcosis was diagnosed as the cause of hypercalcemia. Successful treatment resulted in the resolution of hypercalcemia and decrease of the serum 1,25(OH₂D concentration to within the normal range. In summary, although HIV infection is a major risk factor for cryptococcosis, vitamin D-mediated hypercalcemia could be the initial presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cryptococcosis / blood
  • Cryptococcosis / complications
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / blood
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / blood
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / complications
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Vitamin D
  • 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D