Babies are sometimes born with dangerously low calcium levels in their blood, which can cause serious problems like seizures. Doctors usually treat this with calcium and vitamin D supplements, but some babies don’t respond to these standard treatments. Researchers found that a special medication called teriparatide, which mimics a natural hormone in the body, helped one baby whose calcium levels wouldn’t improve with regular treatment. This case suggests that doctors may have a new tool to help babies with this stubborn condition, though more research is needed to confirm how well it works.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a medication called teriparatide could help a newborn baby whose low blood calcium levels wouldn’t improve with standard treatments
  • Who participated: One newborn baby with severely low calcium levels that didn’t respond to normal calcium and vitamin D supplements
  • Key finding: The baby’s calcium levels improved significantly after receiving teriparatide treatment, suggesting this medication may help when standard treatments fail
  • What it means for you: If you have a newborn with persistent low calcium levels that don’t respond to typical treatment, this research suggests doctors might have another option to try. However, this is based on just one case, so talk with your pediatrician about whether it’s appropriate for your situation

The Research Details

This is a case report, which means doctors documented what happened with one specific patient. They described a newborn baby who had dangerously low calcium levels in the blood. The baby received the usual treatments—calcium supplements and vitamin D—but the calcium levels stayed too low. Then the doctors tried a different medication called teriparatide, which is a man-made version of a hormone that normally helps control calcium levels in the body. The doctors tracked how the baby responded to this new treatment.

Case reports are like detailed medical stories. They help doctors learn about unusual situations or new ways to treat problems. While they don’t prove something works for everyone, they can point researchers toward new possibilities worth studying more carefully. This case report is important because it suggests a new treatment option for a serious problem that sometimes doesn’t respond to standard care.

Understanding how to treat babies with stubborn low calcium levels is crucial because this condition can cause seizures, irregular heartbeats, and other life-threatening complications. Most babies respond well to standard calcium and vitamin D supplements, but a small number don’t. Finding new treatment options for these difficult cases could save lives and prevent serious complications. This case report opens the door to exploring whether teriparatide could become a standard option for doctors to use when regular treatments fail.

This is a case report describing one patient’s experience, which is the lowest level of research evidence. It shows what happened in one situation but doesn’t prove the treatment will work for all babies with this problem. The findings are interesting and worth investigating further, but doctors would need to study many more babies to know if teriparatide is truly effective and safe for this use. The fact that it was published in a respected medical journal (BMJ Case Reports) means it was reviewed by other experts, which adds some credibility to the observation.

What the Results Show

The newborn baby in this case had calcium levels that were dangerously low and wouldn’t improve with standard treatment using calcium supplements and vitamin D. After the doctors started giving the baby teriparatide—a medication that acts like the body’s natural parathyroid hormone—the calcium levels began to rise significantly. This improvement was important because it meant the baby’s seizure risk decreased and other dangerous symptoms related to low calcium could be prevented.

The improvement happened relatively quickly after starting the new medication, suggesting that teriparatide may work through a different mechanism than standard calcium supplements. While standard treatments simply add more calcium to the body, teriparatide works by telling the body to regulate its own calcium levels more effectively. This is an important distinction because it explains why a baby who didn’t respond to extra calcium might respond to a medication that helps the body manage calcium on its own.

The case report also highlighted that low calcium in newborns can have many different causes, including problems with vitamin D, magnesium deficiency, or issues with the parathyroid glands (small glands that control calcium). Understanding the underlying cause is important for choosing the right treatment. In this particular case, the baby’s calcium levels were resistant to conventional therapy, meaning the doctors had to think creatively about what else might help.

Teriparatide is already used to treat osteoporosis (weak bones) in adults and has been studied for other calcium-related problems. However, using it for newborns with resistant low calcium levels is relatively new. This case report adds to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that teriparatide might be useful in difficult-to-treat cases of neonatal low calcium. Most previous treatment approaches focused on adding calcium and vitamin D, so exploring medications that help the body regulate calcium naturally represents a shift in thinking about how to approach stubborn cases.

This research has important limitations to understand. First, it describes only one baby, so we can’t know if teriparatide will help other babies with the same problem. Second, we don’t know the long-term effects of giving teriparatide to newborns, since it’s not typically used in this age group. Third, the report doesn’t include a comparison group—we can’t be certain the improvement was due to teriparatide rather than other factors or the passage of time. Finally, doctors would need to study many more babies in controlled research studies before recommending teriparatide as a standard treatment for this condition.

The Bottom Line

Based on this single case report, teriparatide should not yet be considered a standard treatment for low calcium in newborns. However, it may be worth considering as an option when babies don’t respond to standard calcium and vitamin D supplements. Parents of newborns with resistant low calcium should discuss all available options with their pediatrician or a pediatric endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in hormone and metabolism problems in children). Confidence level: Low, based on one case report.

This research is most relevant to parents of newborns with persistent low calcium levels that don’t improve with standard treatment, and to doctors caring for these babies. It’s less relevant to the general population, since low calcium in newborns is relatively uncommon. Babies born prematurely, to mothers with diabetes, or with certain genetic conditions may be at higher risk and should be monitored closely.

In this case, the baby showed improvement relatively quickly after starting teriparatide, within days to weeks. However, the timeline for seeing benefits may vary from baby to baby. Long-term outcomes and whether this improvement lasts aren’t yet known from this single case.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If your baby is being treated for low calcium, track daily calcium supplement doses given, any symptoms like irritability or unusual movements, and blood calcium test results when available. Record the date, time, and any changes in the baby’s behavior or feeding.
  • Work closely with your pediatrician to ensure all prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements are given exactly as directed. Keep detailed records of your baby’s symptoms and bring them to appointments. If standard treatments aren’t working, ask your doctor about whether newer options like teriparatide might be appropriate for your baby’s specific situation.
  • Maintain a symptom log noting any seizures, excessive irritability, feeding difficulties, or unusual movements. Schedule regular blood tests as recommended by your doctor to monitor calcium levels. Keep all medical appointments and communicate openly with your healthcare team about your baby’s progress and any concerns.

This case report describes the experience of one newborn and should not be considered proof that teriparatide works for all babies with low calcium levels. If your baby has low calcium or symptoms like seizures, irritability, or feeding problems, seek immediate medical attention from your pediatrician or emergency room. Do not start, stop, or change any medications without consulting your baby’s doctor. This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider, as they can evaluate your baby’s specific situation and recommend the most appropriate care.