Hypercalcemia may follow hypocalcemia in the course of acute renal failure (also named now as acute kidney injury) secondary to rhabdomyolysis. The clinician should be aware of this calcium kinetics to avoid the complications of both hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia that may occur at few days interval during the recovery phase. We present herewith the case of a young gentleman who developed anuric ARF due to a strenuous exercise induced rhabdomyolysis. He was treated with supportive, corrective and dialysis measures. The progress was favourable with a diuretic phase. During the diuretic phase, he developed progressive hypercalcemia that reached up to 3.54 mEq/lwith constipation and drowsiness. Investigations showed besides stigmata of rhabdomyolysis and ARF, low initial levels of vitamin D metabolites. The calcemia eventually normalized with fluids, dialysis and a single dose of Pamidronate Sodium . The patient was discharged 3 weeks after admission with a recovered clinical condition, improved renal functions and normal calcemia. The biphasic kinetics of calcium in this setting is ocumented. We conclude that serum corrected calcium should be monitored in the context of ARF due to rhabdomyolysis.
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Hypercalcemia; Hypocalcemia; Rhabdomyolysis.