Successful bridge to diagnosis: Extracorporeal life support in generalized arterial calcification of infancy.
Sarah D King, Spencer Wilhelm, Ruth Lewit et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A term female newborn developed persistent pulmonary hypertension and required venoarterial extracorporeal life support within 24 hours of birth. Although initially stabilized, she experienced progressive neurologic deterioration. Imaging showed diffuse vascular calcification, including severe carotid involvement, prompting suspicion of generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI), which was subsequently confirmed genetically. Extensive cerebrovascular calcification was associated with irreversible neurologic injury. Extracorporeal life support provided a bridge to diagnosis, but did not prevent the neurologic complication.
What made this case unusual
The case featured severe carotid calcification with catastrophic neurologic injury, an involvement the report identifies as previously unrecognized in GACI.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In a neonate with cardiopulmonary collapse and progressive neurologic deterioration, diffuse vascular calcification—including carotid involvement—can point to GACI; extracorporeal life support may provide time for diagnostic evaluation.