Idiopathic Hypercalcemia of Infancy, with Failure to Thrive: Report of Three Cases, with a Consideration of the Possible Etiology
Three additional cases of "idiopathic hypercalcemia of infancy, with failure to thrive" are reported. The clinical manifestations usually become apparent during the first 9 months of life and include poor weight gain, anorexia, vomiting, constipation, polyuria and polydypsia. Typically, the facies is quite characteristic and is described as "elflike." Nearly all patients exhibit generalized muscular hypotonia. The calcium in the serum is elevated to concentrations above 11.5 mg/100 ml. The urea nitrogen of the blood may also be increased but other chemical determinations of the blood are usually normal, except in the advanced stage of the disease. The etiology of the disease has not been established, but the authors postulate that vitamin D may play an important role. They feel that this disease may be an expression of hypersensitivity to vitamin D, but should not be confused with "true vitamin D intoxication."
