A case of fatal osteolytic hypercalcemia complicated with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease leading to renal failure

CEN Case Rep. 2019 Feb;8(1):23-30. doi: 10.1007/s13730-018-0358-6. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Abstract

A 40-year-old male was hospitalized with renal impairment and severe hypercalcemia. His concentration of serum IgG4 was high, but serum whole PTH, 1-25(OH)2 vitamin D3 and PTHrP were not elevated. Computed tomography showed swelling of the bilateral lacrimal glands and systemic lymphadenopathy. The histological findings of lacrimal gland biopsy fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4ROD). Bone scintigraphy showed increased ectopic uptake in the stomach, heart, lungs, and kidneys. He died on day 16 of admission, although the therapies for hypercalcemia were continued. Autopsy results showed an increase of osteoclasts in the bone marrow and metastatic calcification in multiple organs, and excluded from the differential diagnosis other disorders which present lymph-node swelling and hypercalcemia such as cancer, lymphoma, Castleman's disease, and sarcoidosis. He was given a diagnosis of IgG4ROD with osteolytic hypercalcemia.

Keywords: Hypercalcemia; IgG4-related disease; Metastatic calcification.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / complications*
  • Hypercalcemia / pathology
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / complications*
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / pathology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus / pathology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / complications*
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Osteolysis / complications*
  • Osteolysis / pathology
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Renal Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Renal Insufficiency / pathology