Hipoparatiroidismo y calcificaciones cerebrales: reporte de caso / Hypoparathyroidism and brain calcifications: a case report

Introducción. El hipoparatiroidismo es una enfermedad caracterizada por la ausencia o concentraciones inadecuadamente bajas de hormona paratiroidea (PTH), que conduce a hipocalcemia, hiperfosfatemia y excreción fraccional elevada de calcio en la orina. Las calcificaciones del sistema nervioso central son un hallazgo frecuente en estos pacientes. Caso clínico. Mujer de 56 años con antecedente de hipotiroidismo, que ingresó por un cuadro de 6 días de evolución caracterizado por astenia, parestesias periorales y movimientos anormales de manos y pies. Las pruebas de laboratorio demostraron hipocalcemia, hiperfosfatemia y niveles bajos de hormona paratiroidea. Se realizó una tomografía computarizada de cráneo que mostró áreas bilaterales y simétricas de calcificaciones en hemisferios cerebelosos, ganglios basales y corona radiata. No se evidenciaron trastornos en el metabolismo del cobre y hierro. Se estableció el diagnóstico del síndrome de Fahr secundario a hipoparatiroidismo y se inició tratamiento con suplementos de calcio y vitamina D con evolución satisfactoria. Discusión. El síndrome de Fahr es un trastorno neurológico caracterizado por el depósito anormal de calcio en áreas del cerebro que controlan la actividad motora. Se asocia a varias enfermedades, especialmente, hipoparatiroidismo. La suplementación con calcio y vitamina D con el objetivo de normalizar los niveles plasmáticos de estos cationes es el tratamiento convencional. (AU)

Introduction. Hypoparathyroidism is a disease characterized by absence or inappropriately low concentrations of circulating parathyroid hormone, leading to hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and elevated fractional excretion of calcium in the urine. Central nervous system calcifications are a common finding in these patients. Case report. 56-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism who was admitted for a 6-day course of illness characterized by asthenia, perioral paresthesias, and abnormal movements of the hands and feet. Laboratory tests showed hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and low parathyroid hormone levels. A cranial computed tomography was performed. It showed bilateral and symmetrical areas of calcifications in the cerebellar hemispheres, basal ganglia, and radiata crown. No disorders of copper or iron metabolism were evident. The diagnosis of Fahr syndrome secondary to hypoparathyroidism was established and treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplements was started with satisfactory evolution. Discussion. Fahr's syndrome is a neurological disorder associated with abnormal calcium deposition in areas of the brain that control motor activity. It is associated with various diseases, especially hypoparathyroidism. The conventional treatment is supplementation with calcium and vitamin D, with the aim of normalizing their plasma levels. (AU)

Adult Onset Leuko-encephalopathy, Cerebral Calcifications and Cysts.

Leuko-encephalopathy, brain calcifications and cysts (LCC) known as Labrune syndrome, is a rare syndrome. It is primarily described in childhood and adolescence as presenting with neurological impairment of relatively rapid progression and intra-cerebral hemorrhage that frequently leads to death. The etiology is unknown & there is no specific clinical feature suggestive of this disorder. Here in, we report a 34-year old man with LCC who had chronic Headache & neurological symptoms beginning in adulthood and discuss recently described entities in view of the relevant literature.

Calcificações nos núcleos da base após hipoparatireoidismo secundário: relato de caso / Cerebral calcifications due to secondary hypoparathyroidism: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As calcificações dos gânglios da base ocorrem em diversas situações clínicas e podem se apresentar de modo variado. Desde formas assintomáticas e incidentalmente encontradas em exames de imagem; até formas convulsivas graves ou manifestações clínicas de parkinsonismo.O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar um caso de hipocalcemia com repercussões neurológicas 10 anos após hipoparatireoidismo secundário devido à tireoidectomia por carcinoma folicular. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 23 anos, submetida à tireoidectomia aos 9 anos de idade devido a carcinoma folicular, tendo posteriormente recebido dose de I131 e desde então em uso de puran T4. Após aproximadamente 10 anos da cirurgia,iniciou episódios de crises convulsivas tônico-clônicas, além de parestesias e episódios de tetania. Hipoparatireoidismo com manifestações neurológicas, diagnosticado longo tempo após a cirurgia de tireoide é considerado uma raridade. A paciente procurou atendimento médico facultativo com quadro sugestivo de crise convulsiva e tetania. Solicitado exames laboratoriais e tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio que demonstrou áreas de calcificações cerebrais nos núcleos caudados, lenticulares e tálamo. Tratada com cálcio e Vitamina D apresentando melhora clínica importante. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento do hipoparatireoidismo com cálcio e vitamina D, restabelecendo a calcemia, propiciou a estabilizaçãodo quadro neurológico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Calcifications of the basal ganglia occur in various clinical situations and can present variably. Even asymptomatic forms which are incidentally found on imaging studies until severe seizures or clinical manifestations of parkinsonism are described. To report a case of hypocalcemia with neurological repercussions ten years after secondary hypoparathyroidism due to thyroidectomy for follicular carcinoma. CASE REPORT: The diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism with neurological findings occurring years after thyroid surgery is considered to be rare. The authors describe one case of hypoparathyroidismassociated to brain calcifications diagnosed ten yearsafter thyroidectomy due to follicular thyroid carcinoma. Thepatient was admitted to Emergency Service presenting with seizures,without a previous diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. Thediagnosis was suspected adding the biochemical analysis and thecerebral computed tomography, which showed cerebral calcificationsin basal ganglia. The patient was treated with calcium andvitamin D with improvement of clinical status. CONCLUSION: The treatment of hypoparathyroidism withcalcium and vitamin D, restoring the calcium levels, brought thestabilization of the neurological symptoms.

Calcificações cerebrais por hipoparatireoidismo: considerações sobre o diagnóstico, longo tempo após a tireoidectomia / Cerebral calcifications due to hypoparathyroidism: considerations about cases diagnosed many years after parcial thyroidectomy / Cerebral calcifications due to hypoparathyroidism: considerations about cases diagnosed many years after parcial thyroidectomy

Hipoparatireoidismo com manifestações neurológicas diagnosticado muitos anos após a cirurgia de tireóide é considerado uma raridade. Descrevemos neste trabalho 3 casos de hipoparatireoidismo associado a calcificações estrio-pálido-denteadas diagnosticados de 20 a mais de 40 anos após tireoidectomia parcial. Duas pacientes foram admitidas com quadros convulsivos em Serviços de Emergência, provavelmente secundário à hipocalcemia, sem diagnóstico de hipoparatireoidismo, o qual foi suspeitado a partir dos exames bioquímicos e da presença de cicatriz cirúrgica no pescoço. A tomografia computadorizada de crânio demonstrou extensas calcificações cerebrais em ambos os casos. A terceira paciente não apresentava quadro neurológico relacionado à hipocalcemia ou às calcificações de gânglios da base e cerebelo demonstradas pela tomografia. Todas foram tratadas com cálcio e vitamina D, com importante melhora clínica nos dois casos sintomáticos. Trata-se, somando-se uma publicação anterior, de 4 casos semelhantes provenientes da mesma região, que era considerada carente em iodo alimentar (Triângulo Mineiro e Goiás, Brasil), onde as tireoidectomias eram muito comuns e provavelmente sem um seguimento clínico adequado. Suspeitamos que outros casos similares, não detectados, possam existir atualmente.

The diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism with neurological findings occurring years after thyroid surgery is considered to be rare. The authors describe 3 cases of hypoparathyroidism associated to brain calcifications diagnosed many years after partial thyroidectomy. Two patients were admitted to Emergency Services presenting with seizures, without a previous diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. The diagnosis was suspected adding the biochemical analysis to the scar on the neck. The CT, which was performed more than 20 years after surgery, showed large cerebral calcifications in both cases. The third patient did not have neurological symptoms, but presented basal and cerebelar calcifications that were demonstrated in the CT. All patients were treated with calcium and vitamin D with great improvement of clinical status. Adding to a case published previously, we count 4 cases from the same region. Thyroidectomies were very common in this region poor in dietary iodide. Since the clinical follow up was inadequate, we suspect that undetected cases similar to these may exist in the present moment.