Etidronate therapy for hypercalcemia in subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is characterized by indurated violet skin nodules and, occasionally, life-threatening hypercalcemia. Current treatments of patients with SCFN-related hypercalcemia are often only partially successful and may be associated with prolonged hypercalcemia. We now report the use of etidronate, a bisphosphonate, to control hypercalcemia in an infant with SCFN.