Subcutaneous fat necrosis associated with severe hypocalcaemia in a neonate

• Published in: Journal of Perinatology Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 64 - 66
• Main Authors: Karochristou, K, Siahanidou, T, Kakourou-Tsivitanidou, T, Stefanaki, K, Mandyla, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Asphyxia Neonatorum - complications; Bone Density Conservation Agents - administration & dosage; Bone Density Conservation Agents - therapeutic use; Care and treatment; Case studies; Diagnosis; Diseases; Fat Necrosis - diagnosis; Fat Necrosis - drug therapy; Fat Necrosis - etiology; Female; Humans; Hydroxycholecalciferols - administration & dosage; Hydroxycholecalciferols - therapeutic use; Hypocalcemia; Hypocalcemia - etiology; Infant, Newborn; Infants (Newborn); Medical examination; Necrosis; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Patient outcomes; Pseudohypoparathyroidism - drug therapy; Pseudohypoparathyroidism - etiology; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Greece
• ISSN: 0743-8346; 1476-5543
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211415

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) of the newborn is an uncommon disorder of the adipose tissue, mostly affecting full-term or post-term newborns who experience perinatal distress. The lesions of SFN typically occur during the first six weeks of life; they are usually self-limited and no specific therapy is required. The disorder may be rarely complicated with hypercalcaemia. We present the case of a neonate with perinatal asphyxia who manifested SFN followed by hypocalcaemia instead of hypercalcaemia and a biochemical profile of pseudohypoparathyroidism four weeks after the eruption of skin lesions. The infant was treated with alfacalcidiol. Blood biochemistry was normalized within one week and serum parathyroid hormone levels declined to normal over the next two months. It is suggested that perinatal asphyxia was the common etiopathogenetic factor for the development of both SFN and pseudohypoparathyroidism.