Background Non-islet cell tumor-induced hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome which can cause recurrent hypoglycemia. There is no clear standard of care for management of hypoglycemia. Often, these patients have high morbidity and therefore surgical tumor resection is not always possible. Clinical case: This is the case of a 69 year-old male presenting with altered mental status in the context of hypoglycemia without clear etiology with an initial serum glucose level of 32 mg/dL (normal range 60-100 mg/dL) which quickly corrected after administration of intravenous glucose. He was found to have a large bowel obstruction with CT abdomen revealing an underlying neoplasm. Biopsy of suspected lesion on colonoscopy revealed colorectal adenocarcinoma. Repeated episodes of hypoglycemia complicated by seizures required inpatient management. Workup included serum insulin level which resulted in suppressed level (<1. 0 uU/mL, normal range 1.9-23. 0 uU/mL), low c-peptide level (0.1 ng/mL, normal range 1.1-4.4 ng/mL), low beta hydroxybutyrate level (0. 07 mmol/L, normal level <0.3 mmol/L), cortisol level of 43.7 mcg/dL, undetectable insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level (<10 ng/mL, normal range 59-230 ng/mL) and low insulin like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) level (66 ng/mL, normal range 333 - 967 ng/mL). IGF2: IGF1 ratio was 66 (ratio >10 is indicative for diagnosis of non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia). Due to extremely poor oral intake and recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia despite continuous dextrose infusion, the patient was started on 20 mg prednisone daily. Eventually, 40 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone in addition to dextrose infusion was needed as maintenance therapy effectively preventing hypoglycemia. Given his poor functional status, the surgical and oncology team decided he was no longer a surgical or chemotherapy candidate. Eventually, palliative medicine was consulted and the patient was transitioned to comfort care with a plan for outpatient hospice. Conclusion NICTH should be suspected in any patient with hypoglycemia without clear etiology, especially if there are suggestions to NICTH such as known malignancy or newly diagnosed mass. Once NICTH is identified and a primary tumor is found, complete tumor resection represents ideal management, however, not always attainable. In such cases, dextrose infusion might be insufficient to prevent hypoglycemia and is not always the preferred option given the required long-term venous access. In these circumstances, early high dose glucocorticoids are safe and appear to successfully prevent hypoglycemic events. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Background Hypercalcemia is a rare pathology in pregnancy, and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been described as the most common cause. No guidelines exist concerning treatment of PHPT during pregnancy, although most authors favor surgery as the treatment of choice during the second trimester. Nonetheless, management during the third trimester of pregnancy is challenging due to lack of current guidelines. Clinical case This 29-year pregnant female presenting at 38-weeks gestation with spontaneous rupture of membranes and admitted for latent labor. She was incidentally found to have hypercalcemia. Endocrinology was consulted for asymptomatic hypercalcemia in the third trimester of pregnancy. A diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) was suspected based on elevated serum calcium adjusted for albumin (16 mg/dL, normal range 8.5-10.5 mg/dL) and elevated PTH levels (121 pg/mL, normal range 14-65 pg/mL). In addition, parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) was less than 2.0 pmol/L (normal range <2.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxy vitamin D was 35.6 ng/mL (normal range 30-50 ng/mL) and urine calcium/creatinine clearance ratio (CCCR) level was 0.02 (<0.01 familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is likely, >0.02 PHPT is likely) further supporting the diagnosis of PHPT. No parathyroid imaging was performed as there was no plan for surgical intervention at that time. Conservative management was initiated with aggressive oral and intravenous fluid rehydration. The patient subsequently had an uneventful vaginal delivery with the arrival of a healthy newborn eight hours after treatment was initiated. With continued IV and oral hydration, corrected calcium fell by a total of 5 mg/dL. Given an uneventful postpartum course as well as improving calcium levels with hydration, the patient was discharged on day three of hospitalization with a plan for outpatient endocrinology follow up in preparation for future parathyroidectomy. Conclusion There is no previous case report describing severe hypercalcemia in the third trimester of pregnancy managed conservatively solely with hydration. Calcitonin has been attempted but use is limited secondary to tachyphylaxis. Additionally, some case reports suggest cinacalcet use but this drug crosses the placenta. In this unique and complicated case of severe hypercalcemia diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy, conservative management with intensive oral and intravenous fluid rehydration was safe and effective in lowering serum calcium levels and therefore conducive to a positive pregnancy outcome. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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