Biomaterial Database

Recurrent pancreatitis secondary to hypercalcemia following vitamin D poisoning. 1989

B D Waele, and J Smitz, and G Willems

Department of Surgery, VUB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

A 66-year-old patient had been admitted four times for recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. At each time, elevated serum calcium levels, between 13.5-14.5 mg/dl, were found. Surgical drainage of necrotic pancreatic tissue had to be done on one occasion. Extensive investigations failed to disclose any conventional hypercalcemic disease. At his latest admission, the serum calcium level was 13.4 mg/dl, and the serum amylase level was 440 IU/L (N, less than 85). This time, the serum 25-OH vitamin D levels were investigated using radioimmunology and proved to be raised to 330 micrograms/L (normal, 16-74 micrograms/L). Specific questioning of the patient revealed that he had been taking regularly excessive quantities of vitamin supplements as a self medication. After stopping vitamin intake, his serum amylase levels returned to normal, and he had no more episodes of pancreatitis. This case illustrates vitamin D intoxication as a cause of recurrent pancreatitis. Measuring serum 25-OH vitamin D levels is advocated in pancreatitis associated with hypercalcemia of unclear origin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010195	Pancreatitis	INFLAMMATION of the PANCREAS. Pancreatitis is classified as acute unless there are computed tomographic or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic findings of CHRONIC PANCREATITIS (International Symposium on Acute Pancreatitis, Atlanta, 1992). The two most common forms of acute pancreatitis are ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS and gallstone pancreatitis.	Acute Edematous Pancreatitis,Acute Pancreatitis,Pancreatic Parenchyma with Edema,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edema,Pancreatitis, Acute,Pancreatitis, Acute Edematous,Peripancreatic Fat Necrosis,Acute Edematous Pancreatitides,Acute Pancreatitides,Edema, Pancreatic Parenchymal,Edematous Pancreatitides, Acute,Edematous Pancreatitis, Acute,Fat Necrosis, Peripancreatic,Necrosis, Peripancreatic Fat,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edemas,Pancreatitides, Acute,Pancreatitides, Acute Edematous,Parenchymal Edema, Pancreatic,Peripancreatic Fat Necroses
D012008	Recurrence	The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission.	Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006934	Hypercalcemia	Abnormally high level of calcium in the blood.	Milk-Alkali Syndrome,Hypercalcemias,Milk Alkali Syndrome,Syndrome, Milk-Alkali
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D000681	Amylases	A group of amylolytic enzymes that cleave starch, glycogen, and related alpha-1,4-glucans. (Stedman, 25th ed) EC 3.2.1.-.	Diastase,Amylase
D014807	Vitamin D	A vitamin that includes both CHOLECALCIFEROLS and ERGOCALCIFEROLS, which have the common effect of preventing or curing RICKETS in animals. It can also be viewed as a hormone since it can be formed in SKIN by action of ULTRAVIOLET RAYS upon the precursors, 7-dehydrocholesterol and ERGOSTEROL, and acts on VITAMIN D RECEPTORS to regulate CALCIUM in opposition to PARATHYROID HORMONE.