Choroidal calcifications in patients with Gitelman's syndrome

Gitelman's syndrome is a renal tubular disorder characterized by a sodium a nd chloride reabsorption defect in distal tubular cells that determines hyp okalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and low calcium excretion. T he presence of choroidal calcifications was sought in five patients with Gi telman's syndrome by ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, indoc yanine green angiography, and ocular ultrasonography. Calcifications observ ed in the choroid of two patients were shown by ultrasonography in both pat ients. Ophthalmic and fluorangiographic examinations detected this alterati on in one of the two subjects. Chondrocalcinosis was found in one patient w ith choroidal calcifications. These findings suggest that precipitation of calcium salts can occur in the choroidal tissue of patients with Gitelman's syndrome. Deposits appeared to be well seen by ultrasonography because of their depth in ocular tissues. Sclerochoroidal calcifications may be favore d by the low calcium excretion, which is associated with normal intestinal calcium absorption in patients with Gitelman's syndrome. (C) 2000 by the Na tional Kidney Foundation, Inc.