Hypercalcemia Associated With Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism Managed Conservatively With Pamidronate in a Hemodialysis Patient

Secondary hyperparathyroidism and the associated metabolic abnormalities are common complications of chronic kidney disease. When these disorders cannot be managed by conventional measures, including phosphate restriction, phosphate binders, vitamin D therapy, and calcimimetics, tertiary hyperparathyroidism and the associated metabolic abnormalities may develop. In such cases parathyroidectomy is required. We report a case in which a patient with tertiary hyperparathyroidism and refractory hypercalcemia who was not a surgical candidate was managed with the bisphosphonate pamidronate. This patient had failed conventional measures to manage hypercalcemia and presented with mental status changes. Pamidronate therapy was associated with a sustained decrease in serum calcium concentration and improvement in clinical symptoms. This is the first case, to our knowledge, in which pamidronate was used in a patient refractory to all other reasonable medical management, including calcimimetics.