Hypercalcemia due to sun exposure in a patient with multiple myeloma and elevated parathyroid hormone-related protein

Eur J Endocrinol. 2003 Mar;148(3):351-5. doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1480351.

Abstract

A patient with multiple myeloma who developed hypercalcemia during three different stages of his disease, with a different hypercalcemic agent elevated in his serum on each occasion, is described. The initial episode of hypercalcemia was associated with high serum interleukin-6 (IL-6). After treatment for myeloma normocalcemia was achieved. Subsequently, a relapse of hypercalcemia occurred, this time characterized by frankly elevated plasma parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) but normal IL-6. Monotherapy with pamidronate infusions resulted in remission of the hypercalcemia and a significant fall in PTHrP levels. A third spell of hypercalcemia characterized by an acute rise in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D to abnormally high levels occurred during the summer season after prolonged and intense exposure to the sun.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Diphosphonates / administration & dosage
  • Diphosphonates / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / blood
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology*
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / blood
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications*
  • Osteocalcin / blood
  • Pamidronate
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
  • Peptide Hormones / blood*
  • Recurrence
  • Sunlight / adverse effects*
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Diphosphonates
  • PTHLH protein, human
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Osteocalcin
  • Vitamin D
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Pamidronate