Magnesium and anti-phosphate treatment with bisphosphonates for Generalised Arterial Calcification of Infancy: a case report

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder, characterized by calcification of the internal elastic lamina, fibrotic myointimal proliferation of muscular arteries and resultant arterial stenosis. Treatment with bisphosphonates has been proposed as a means of reducing arterial calcifications in GACI patients, although there is no formalized treatment approach. The case reported here was a patient with severe GACI diagnosed at three months of age who had no response to bisphosphonate treatment, but clinically improved after the initiation of magnesium and anti-phosphate (using calcium carbonate) treatments. In patients unresponsive to bisphosphonate, magnesium and anti-phosphate treatment may be attempted.