Mucosal gastric calcinosis in a hypocalcaemic patient.

Metastatic calcification is defined as the deposition of calcium salt in normal tissue due to an abnormal serum biochemical environment such as hypercalcaemia or hyperphosphataemia. The most common causes of metastatic calcifications are chronic renal failure, hyperparathyroidism, and hypercalcaemia related to malignancy [1]. Gastric mucosal calcification is an example of metastatic calcification; it was reported mostly in chronic renal failure [2]. We report herein a case of gastric calcinosis in a patient who has hypoparathyroidism.

Our case is a 21-year-old male who has type 1 diabetes and has had idiopathic hypoparathyroidism since he was 5 years old. He was admitted to our hospital with leg and arm spasms. In his medical history the patient had deep hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia due to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. He also had type 1 diabetes that was uncontrolled, with high levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). He was using intensive insulin therapy, sevelamer, anti-phosphate, sucralfate, and calcium supplements. In his physical examination there were Chvostek and Trousseau signs. His blood chemistry was as follows: serum calcium: 6.01 mg/dl (8.4–10.2 mg/dl), phosphate: 7.7 mg/dl (2.5–4.5 mg/dl), Ca × P: 46.35 mg2/dl2, albumin: 4 g/l (3.5–5.2 g/l), potassium: 4.13 mg/dl (3.5–5.1 mg/dl), C-reactive protein: 0.36 mg/dl (< 5 mg/dl), erythrocyte sedimentation rate per hour: 11 mm (0–20 mm). We planned upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to evaluate iron deficiency anaemia to rule out atrophic gastritis or celiac disease. During the endoscopic procedure multiple biopsies were taken from antrum and corpus of the stomach and from the duodenum. In the histopathological examination there was no sign of atrophic gastritis or villous atrophy, but mucosal calcinosis was reported (Figures 1 A–C).

Figure 1 A–C

Mucosal calcinosis

According to our literature search, mucosal calcinosis has not been reported previously in hypoparathyroidism. On the other hand, basal ganglia calcification, which is another type of metastatic calcification, also known as Fahr’s syndrome, is a well-known finding in hypoparathyroidism. We also found this type of basal ganglia and cerebral cortex calcification in our case by cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The pathogenesis of metastatic calcification is not clear [3]. An increase in calcium × phosphate product or cellular alkalinity may cause metastatic calcifications. Sucralfate therapy was also reported previously as an aetiological factor for mucosal calcification, but the relation was not confirmed by other studies [4]. In our opinion there is no clinical significance of gastric mucosal calcification in this case since he was asymptomatic and there was no ulcer or erosion at his endoscopy.

In conclusion, this is the first report of mucosal gastric calcinosis in a hypoparathyroid patient accompanied by cerebral calcification, which may be caused by hyperphosphataemia.