Hypocalcemia Precipitating Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

CALCIUM ions have a key role in the excitation as well as the contraction of cardiac muscle fibers.^{1 2 3} Calcium also influences the renal excretion of sodium.^{4 , 5} The importance of sodium retention in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure has been well described.⁶ It is therefore surprising that clinical evidence of cardiac failure is observed so infrequently in calcium-deficiency states. There are a few reports of hypocalcemic patients, usually children, who acquired cardiomegaly and cardiac failure that appeared to be refractory to therapy until the serum calcium concentration was raised.^{7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14} However, the relation between the level of serum calcium and recovery . . .