The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2013 , Vol 55 , Num 5
Hypocalcemic seizure in an adolescent with Down syndrome: a manifestation of unrecognized celiac disease
Divisions of 1Pediatric Endocrinology, and 2Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Behçet Uz Children’s
Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. E-mail:drkorkmazanil@hotmail.com
Celiac disease (CD) affects up to 1% of the general population. Classically, it
manifests with intestinal symptoms (diarrhea, steatorrhea, abdominal pain or
discomfort) associated with weight loss and anemia. Seizure is a rare form
of presentation of CD. A 13-year-old female patient with Down syndrome
was admitted to the pediatric emergency department with generalized tonicclonic
seizure in addition to numbness around the mouth, paresthesias, and
muscular cramping for seven days. Investigations revealed severe hypocalcemia
and vitamin D deficiency, which were a consequence of malabsorption
secondary to histopathologically confirmed CD. Physicians should be aware
that unrecognized CD can cause severe hypocalcemia.
Keywords :
hypocalcemia, seizure, celiac disease, Down syndrome, vitamin D deficiency.