A case of hypocalcemia

Hypocalcemia is a common disorder in the elderly, affecting 10% of the elderly population as a whole, 18% of those in hospital and 36% of those in long-term care [1, 2]. Many conditions can lead to hypocalcemia in adults young and old, e.g. primary hypoparathyroidism, chronic renal failure, gastrointestinal diseases (such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease), drugs (particularly diuretics, bisphosphonates and antiepileptics), acute pancreatitis and thyroid surgery. Rare causes of hypocalcemia include isolated vitamin 1.25(OH)D3 deficiency or vitamin 1.25(OH)D3 resistance. Another, often neglected cause of hypocalcemia relating to functional parathyroid deficiency is hypomagnesemia. Considering the important role of magnesium in a normal health status, and the potentially serious consequences of hypomagnesemia, clinicians need to identify and treat this condition as soon as possible, thus avoiding serious risks for the patient, particularly in the elderly