Abstract
Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is a rare entity that occurs generally in term or post-term newborns exposed to perinatal stressing factors. These cutaneous lesions appear during the first weeks of life and their potential complications, such as hypercalcemia, determine the prognosis. We present a full-term newborn with SCFN lesions that appeared at the age of 12 days and who, 1 week later, developed moderate hypercalcemia. In our patient, the standard treatment was not enough to normalize calcemia and, in order to prevent secondary effects, etidronate therapy was initiated and it successfully normalized calcium levels. When SCFN is diagnosed, it is important to detect early hypercalcemia and treat it aggressively. This case provides further evidence of etidronate as an alternative and effective treatment for moderate–severe hypercalcemia.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Strohm B, Hobson A, Brocklehurst P, Edwards AD, Azzopardi D . Subcutaneous fat necrosis after moderate therapeutic hypothermia in neonates. Pediatrics 2011; 128: e450–e452.
Rice AM, Rivkees SA . Etidronate therapy for hypercalcemia in subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn. J Pediatr 1999; 134: 349–351.
Trullemans B, Bottu J, Van Nieuwenhuyse JP . Etidronate per os in subcutaneous fat necrosis with hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis. Arch Pediatr 2007; 14: 170–172.
Acknowledgements
Research in the Neonatal Service is supported by BBDUE. No extra funding was secured for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pérez Martínez, E., Camprubí Camprubí, M., Ramos Cebrián, M. et al. Treatment with bisphosphonates in severe hypercalcemia due to subcutaneous fat necrosis in an infant with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. J Perinatol 34, 492–493 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.28
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.28