administered zoledronic acid (4 mg). Prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) was started and simultaneously, she was administered first cycle of ABVD (Adriamycin: 25 mg/m2, Bleomycin: 10 U/m2, Vinblastine: 6 mg/m2 and Dacarbazine: 375 mg/m2), which led to normalisation of serum calcium levels over 4 days and improvement in her hemoglobin levels
Etiology of anemia in Hodgkin’s lymphoma is multifactorial. Anemia of chronic disease, decreased red cell survival, infiltration of bone marrow by tumor and marrow suppression by chemotherapy/radiotherapy are the common mechanisms
Our case had only a transient response to steroids and chemotherapy. Therefore, she was treated with Rituximab which brought hemolysis under control
Mechanism of hypercalcemia in HL has long been suggested to involve extra-renal activation of 1α-hydroxylase leading to production of 1, 25(OD)2 Vitamin D3 or Calcitriol, an active metabolite of Vitamin D, which leads to increased re-absorption of calcium and phosphate from intestine, increased osteoclast activation and bone resorption as well as increased phosphate re-absorption in renal tubules
Hypercalcemia of malignancy involves three mechanisms: 1. Humoral hypercalcemia mediated by PTHrP—seen in solid tumors like breast cancer and adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 2. Direct osteoclast mediated bone resorption due to bony metastasis—seen in solid tumors and multiple myeloma, 3. Calcitriol mediated hypercalcemia—seen in Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as granulomatous disorders like tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, leprosy and disseminated Candidiasis
Hypercalcemia in HL is rare and its incidence has been reported as 0.9, 1.6 and 5.4 % in different series
The source of 1α-hydroxylase in HL has been postulated as monocytes and macrophages infiltrating the tumor akin to tuberculosis or sarcoidosis and is stimulated by IFN-γ secreted by T-lymphocytes
Like sarcoidosis, patients with HL exhibit increased sensitivity to Vitamin D supplements and sunlight, which have been found to precipitate hypercalcemia in these patients
Classical biochemical profile in Calcitriol mediated hypercalcemia include: an elevated calcium, normal/slightly elevated phosphate, normal 25(OH) Vitamin D, suppressed PTHrP and PTH, elevated Calcitriol and a normal/increased tubular reabsorption of phosphate
not been associated with a poorer prognosis and tends to subside after treatment of the underlying disease