What Is Milk-Alkali Syndrome?

Milk-Alkali syndrome, also known as milk-alkali syndrome, refers to hypercalcemia, alkalosis, and varying degrees of renal function damage caused by long-term consumption of a large amount of milk or calcium and taking a large amount of absorbable alkalis. Group of clinical symptoms. In the past, it mostly occurred in the medical treatment of patients with peptic ulcer. Due to the improvement of treatment drugs and protocols, the symptoms are now rare.

Basic Information

nickname: Milk-alkali syndrome
Visiting department: Internal medicine
Common locations: kidney

Common causes: Long-term consumption of calcium- and phosphorus-rich milk and a large number of alkaline agents that are easily absorbed by the intestine
Common symptoms: Muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, thirst and urination, weight loss, headache, dizziness, lethargy, and renal colic

Causes of Milk-Alkali syndrome

Long-term consumption of calcium- and phosphorus-rich milk and taking a large amount of alkaline agents that are easily absorbed by the intestine are the causes of the intrinsic cause. People with frequent vomiting and pre-existing kidney disease are more likely to induce and exacerbate the traits. Milk is rich in calcium and phosphorus. Long-term drinking in large quantities will inevitably lead to an increase in calcium and phosphorus in the body. And because they often take a lot of easy-to-absorb alkaline agents at the same time, they cause alkalosis and promote intestinal calcium absorption. The calcium and phosphorus ions in the body are deposited in soft tissues, mainly in the kidneys and eyes, and other skin, blood vessels, lungs, and brains. It can also deposit, causing damage to the structure and function of the corresponding tissues and organs.

Clinical manifestations of Milk-Alkali syndrome

Mainly manifested by hypercalcemia, alkalosis and soft tissue calcium deposits caused by muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, polydipsia, weight loss, headache, dizziness, lethargy, and renal colic. According to the characteristics of the course of disease can be divided into three phases:

1. Acute phase (Mcmillan syndrome)

After eating milk and taking a large amount of easy-to-absorb alkali for one week, he developed symptoms, but there was no eye involvement. After stopping milk and alkali, symptoms often subsided quickly, and renal function also recovered.

2. Subacute phase (Cope syndrome)

Banded keratopathy and combined membrane microsomes can also cause calcium deposits in the soft tissues of the whole body. The symptoms can gradually disappear after taking milk and alkalis, and renal function recovers slowly, but it can be completely recovered.

3. Chronic phase (Burnett syndrome)

Symptoms were further aggravated, and soft tissue calcium deposits were widespread and severe, and renal function was significantly impaired. After stopping milk and alkalis, blood calcium could drop to normal, but renal insufficiency could not be fully recovered.

Milk-Alkali syndrome test

Biochemical examination of serum calcium increased, more than 2.56mmol / l.

Milk-Alkali syndrome diagnosis

1. Have a large history of long-term consumption of milk and taking alkaline drugs.

2. Serum calcium increased, mostly higher than 2.56mmol / L.

3. Metabolic alkalosis, blood carbon dioxide binding power and pH are higher than normal.

4. Renal damage, such as increased nocturia, low urine specific gravity, elevated blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine.

5. There are manifestations of soft tissue calcium.

6. The condition can be improved after stopping milk and alkali.

Differential diagnosis of Milk-Alkali syndrome

It needs to be distinguished from hypercalcemia or calciosis due to primary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D poisoning, sarcoidosis, and malignant tumor metastasis.

Milk-Alkali syndrome complications

May be complicated by peptic ulcer, urinary system infection, renal failure and so on.

Milk-Alkali syndrome treatment

Milk and alkalis should be discontinued during treatment and enter a low-calcium diet. Correct alkalosis and hypokalemia, actively prevent urinary tract infections, hemodialysis can be performed for those with severe renal impairment, and kidney transplantation can be performed for those with conditions.