Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37635211›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of emergency medicine2023

Severe hypocalcemia after denosumab treatment leading to refractory ventricular tachycardia and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: a case report.

Fumito Okuno, Asami Ito-Masui, Atsuya Hane, Keiko Maeyama, Kaoru Ikejiri, Ken Ishikura, Masashi Yanagisawa, Kaoru Dohi, Kei Suzuki

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of emergency medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Fumito OkunoEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Asami Ito-MasuiEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan. amasui@med.mie-u.ac.jp.
Atsuya HaneEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Keiko MaeyamaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Kaoru IkejiriEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Ken IshikuraEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Masashi YanagisawaDepartment of Cardiology and Nephrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Kaoru DohiDepartment of Cardiology and Nephrology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Kei SuzukiEmergency and Critical Care Center, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Mie University Hospital · JPMie University · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSevere hypocalcemia may lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. Denosumab is an effective treatment for osteoporosis that allows long intervals between doses. However, there is a risk of hypocalcemia in some patients. Due to the long half-life of denosumab, emergency physicians caring for patients presenting with symptoms of hypocalcemia may not be aware of the medication, and adverse effects may last longer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and anxiety disorder called for an ambulance for symptoms of hyperventilation and muscle cramps. After evaluation at the local hospital, she developed pulseless ventricular tachycardia and was resuscitated by defibrillation by the hospital staff. After conversion to sinus rhythm, she was transported to a tertiary center. Upon arrival, pulseless ventricular tachycardia occurred again, and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) were implemented. Laboratory results showed severe hypocalcemia (corrected calcium level of 5.3 mg/dL) whereupon intravenous calcium supplementation was started. She had received the first dose of denosumab (60 mg) by subcutaneous injection 24 days prior to hospitalization. She was eventually weaned from ECMO and IABP support.

conclusionCardiac arrest due to hypocalcemia is relatively rare but can be fatal. In the present case, hyperventilation may have acutely exacerbated pre-existing hypocalcemia, leading to ventricular tachycardia. The patient had a slightly decreased serum calcium level prior to denosumab. Close monitoring may be preferable after the primary dose of denosumab in selected patients. Emergency physicians caring for patients who may be suffering from symptoms/signs of hypocalcemia must be mindful of medications that have long half-lives and affect electrolyte balance when treating fatal arrhythmia due to hypocalcemia.

Indexed as

DenosumabHypocalcemiaIntra-aortic balloon pumpVeno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenationVentricular tachycardia

Identifiers

PMID37635211
PMCPMC10463425
OpenAlexW4386200413

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.