Nephrolithiasis in a neonate with transient renal wasting of calcium and magnesium

Following an uneventful full-term pregnancy, a 3-day-old girl presented with a focal seizure. Serological evaluation revealed hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia. Renal ultrasonography performed because of hematuria showed bilateral nephrolithiasis. Renal wasting of calcium and magnesium was detected and urine citrate excretion was low. The hypocalcemia was refractory to calcium therapy, but responded briskly to magnesium supplementation. After 8 weeks of treatment with magnesium and calcium supplementation plus potassium citrate, the hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia normalized spontaneously, as did the urinary calcium, magnesium, and citrate excretion. We speculate that our patient had a transient tubular defect in the thick ascending loop of Henle. Received: 22 May 2001 / Revised: 3 December 2001 / Accepted: 3 December 2001