Hypercalcemic crisis and primary hyperparathyroidism: Cause of an unusual electrical storm

Abstract

Hypercalcemia is a known cause of heart rhythm disorders, however its association with ventricular arrhythmias is rare. The authors present a case of a fifty-three years old male patient with a ischemic and ethanolic dilated cardiomyopathy, and severely reduced ejection fraction, carrier of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), admitted in the emergency department with an electrical storm, with multiple appropriated ICD shocks, refractory to antiarrhythmic therapy. In the etiological investigation was documented severe hypercalcemia secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism undiagnosed until then. Only after the serum calcium level reduction ventricular tachycardia was stopped.

Keywords: Hipercalcemia; Hiperparatiroidismo; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism; Taquicardia ventricular; Ventricular tachycardia.