Klin Farmakol Farm. 2018;32(4):38-41 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2018.026

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 metastaticbone disorder. Imbalance of bone metabolism may lead to hypercalcaemia or to less common hypocalcaemia. The followingarticle presents a case report of a patient with diagnosis of a lung cancer. Significant hypocalcaemia was detected at the time ofhospital admission. After initial intravenous mineral supplementation therapy, the deficiency of vitamin D was considered withinthe 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 patientwas 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: January 1, 2019  Show citation