Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn: be aware of hypercalcaemia

J Paediatr Child Health. 2006 May;42(5):316-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00862.x.

Abstract

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is an uncommon, self-limiting panniculitis that usually occurs in full-term infants as a consequence of perinatal asphyxia. The cutaneous involvement may be associated with metabolic complications such as hypoglycaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, anemia and hypercalcaemia. The delayed onset of hypercalcaemia, 1-6 months after the development of the skin manifestations, imposes a prolonged follow-up to avoid its acute toxic effects on cardiovascular and renal systems and the more durable metastatic calcifications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Asphyxia Neonatorum / therapy
  • Fat Necrosis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Furosemide / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / diagnosis*
  • Hypercalcemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypercalcemia / metabolism
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / therapy
  • Kidney Calculi / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Subcutaneous Fat / pathology*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Furosemide
  • Prednisolone