A Rare Case of Fahr's Syndrome in a Patient with Secondary Hypoparathyroidism and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

BACKGROUNDFahr's syndrome, also known as basal ganglia calcification, is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by radiological findings of symmetrical and bilateral idiopathic abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control motor activity, including the basal ganglia a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Innovations in clinical neuroscience 2021, Vol.18 (4-6), p.11-14
Main Authors: Beneki, Eirini, Papazarkadas, Xenofon, Karras, Achillefs, Kalantzis, Konstantinos, Tsatiris, Konstantinos
Format: Report
Language:English
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Summary:BACKGROUNDFahr's syndrome, also known as basal ganglia calcification, is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by radiological findings of symmetrical and bilateral idiopathic abnormal deposits of calcium in areas of the brain that control motor activity, including the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. There is neither a specific cure, nor a standard treatment for Fahr's syndrome and treatment is primarily symptomatic. Brain imaging has gained widespread use in order to support clinicians in diagnosing intracranial calcifications. CASE PRESENTATIONWe present a case of an 83-year-old female patient who presented with symptoms of confusion, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Clinical diagnosis of Fahr's syndrome secondary to hypopathyroidism was based on the neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, laboratory evidence of hypoparathyroidism, and radiological signs of calcifications in the basal ganglia. The patient improved following replacement therapy with calcium gluconate, followed by oral supplemental calcitriol. CONCLUSIONThis case highlights the importance of considering organic causes when patients present with neuropsychiatric disturbances, especially following thyroidectomy.
ISSN:2158-8333