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Infliximab Use + Hypercalcemia

#histoplasmosis

Generally self-limited but can disseminate in certain patients on TNF alpha blockers. Sx: low-grade fevers, wt loss, night sweats, lymphadenopathy. Rarely, hypercalcemia can be seen attributed to increased production of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D in the granulomas

Hypercalcemia was not mediated by PTH given ⬇️level. With his constellation of sx+mediastinal lymphadenopathy:

  • DDx:
    • malignancy (PTHrP neg though in this pt)
    • Granulomatous inflammation
      • 1,25dihydroxy vitD & 25vitD D usually ⬆️ with sarcoidosis, histoplasmosis, TB

Sensitivity of the urine Histoplasma antigen is higher in more severe disease as well as in immunocompromised patients. Better sensitivity when Serum and urine histo antigens are both sent.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3588607/

https://www.amjmedsci.org/article/S0002-9629(20)30414-6/fulltext

https://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/8/e231142

Originally tweeted by Indiana University Infectious Diseases Fellowship (@IUIDfellowship) on 9 January, 2021.

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