What critical treatment is necessary for acute hypocalcemia in DiGeorge syndrome?

In the context of DiGeorge syndrome, which is characterized by congenital hypoparathyroidism leading to low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and subsequently hypocalcemia, calcium repletion is a crucial and immediate treatment. Patients with DiGeorge syndrome often present with symptoms of hypocalcemia, such as muscle spasms, seizures, or neuromuscular irritability due to low calcium levels.

Calcium repletion directly addresses the acute deficit, rapidly increasing serum calcium levels and alleviating life-threatening symptoms associated with hypocalcemia. This treatment can be administered orally or intravenously, depending on the severity of the hypocalcemia and the patient's clinical condition.

While vitamin D therapy can be beneficial for long-term management to enhance calcium absorption from the gut and promote bone health, it does not provide the immediate correction needed in acute hypocalcemia. High-dose vitamin D is typically used in conjunction with calcium but is not a substitute for immediate calcium replacement. Surgical intervention is not necessary for acute management of hypocalcemia associated with DiGeorge syndrome, and glucocorticoids do not play a role in treating this specific problem. Therefore, the immediate focus in acute cases is on calcium repletion to stabilize the patient's condition.