Hypercalcemia in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

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Abstract
The incidence of hypercalcemia was determined in 79 consecutive patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and a control group of 79 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients (22) developed hypercalcemia (serum Ca greater than 10.5 mg/dl) 4-16 wk after initiation of chemotherapy for tuberculosis. The duration of hypercalcemia ranged from 1-7 mo. and remission occurred spontaneously in all patients. The mean daily vitamin D supplement was greater in hypercalcemic patients than in the normocalcemic group. There was a positive correlation between daily vitamin D supplement and degree and duration of hypercalcemia. Mean serum Ca in patients with tuberculosis was higher than in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease supplemented with the same dose of vitamin D. Hypercalcemia may be related to the activity of pulmonary tuberculosis and the intake of vitamin D.