Prakt. Lékáren. 2019; 15(4e): 45-51

Is the calcium supplementation in palliative care always unnecessary?

Judita Kudělová¹, Michaela Šlesingerová¹, Jana Gregorová^1,2,3

¹ Oddělení klinické farmacie, Nemocnice Na Bulovce, Praha

² Ústav aplikované farmacie, Farmaceutická fakulta VFU, Brno

³ Ústav farmakologie 2. lékařská fakulta UK, Praha

Disruption of calcium homeostasis is a common complication in oncological patients, particularly in patients with metastatic bone disorder. Imbalance of bone metabolism may lead to hypercalcaemia or to less common hypocalcaemia. The following article presents a case report of a patient with diagnosis of a lung cancer. Significant hypocalcaemia was detected at the time of hospital admission. After initial intravenous mineral supplementation therapy, the deficiency of vitamin D was considered within the differential diagnosis of hypocalcaemia. Subsequent vitamin D metabolite blood test confirmed serious hypovitaminosis. Based on the laboratory findings, mineral and vitamin D supplementations were adjusted during the hospitalization. The patient was referred to a hospice care. In addition to the correct treatment of hypocalcaemia, this article also includes options of its supplementation, both parenteral and oral.

Keywords: lung cancer, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesemia, vitamin D, supplementation

Published: December 1, 2019  Show citation