A rapidly progressive cataract in a patient with autoimmune hypoparathyroidism and acute liver and renal failure.

Abstract

Cataract is a well-known complication of hypoparathyroidism, albeit the mechanism is obscure. The progression of cataract is typically slow in patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. We describe a case of an extremely rapid evolution of typical hypocalcemic cataracts in a patient with familial autoimmune hypoparathyroidism during acute idiopathic hepatic and renal failure, while serum calcium and phosphorus were unbalanced. Physicians and ophthalmologists must be aware of cataracts developing rapidly in the setting of such metabolic derangements.