Condition Lookup
Category:
Parathyroid Disorders
Number of Conditions: 7
Primary Hyperparathyroidism (e.g., Parathyroid Adenoma)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperparathyroidism
Symptoms:
fatigue; muscle weakness; bone pain; nausea; kidney stones; constipation; polyuria; depression; confusion
Root Cause:
Overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH) caused by a benign tumor (adenoma) in one or more parathyroid glands, leading to elevated calcium levels.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (elevated calcium and PTH levels), 24-hour urine calcium test, imaging studies like ultrasound or Sestamibi scan for adenoma localization.
Treatment:
Surgical removal of the adenoma (parathyroidectomy); non-surgical management includes hydration and medications to control calcium levels.
Medications:
Calcimimetics (e.g., cinacalcet , which decreases PTH secretion), bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate , to reduce bone resorption), and vitamin D supplements if indicated.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1–3 per 1,000 individuals, with a higher prevalence in postmenopausal women.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female sex, age over 50, genetic predisposition, prolonged lithium or radiation exposure.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent prognosis with surgery; most symptoms resolve after treatment, though bone density recovery may take time.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Osteoporosis, kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular issues due to hypercalcemia.
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperparathyroidism
Symptoms:
bone pain; weakness; pruritus (itching); muscle cramps; fatigue
Root Cause:
Overproduction of PTH due to chronic hypocalcemia, often caused by vitamin D deficiency or chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to disrupted calcium-phosphate balance.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (elevated PTH, low or normal calcium, high phosphate), imaging studies to assess bone density, and evaluation of kidney function.
Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause (e.g., vitamin D supplementation, phosphate binders), dietary phosphate restriction, or use of calcimimetics. Dialysis or kidney transplant may be necessary for CKD.
Medications:
Activated vitamin D analogs (e.g., calcitriol , paricalcitol ), phosphate binders (e.g., sevelamer , lanthanum carbonate), and calcimimetics (e.g., cinacalcet ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in patients with CKD, affecting up to 90% of individuals with advanced kidney disease.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption syndromes, inadequate dietary calcium intake.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on the underlying cause and management. Progression of CKD can worsen outcomes if not adequately addressed.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Renal osteodystrophy, vascular calcifications, fractures, cardiovascular disease.
Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperparathyroidism
Symptoms:
persistent hypercalcemia; bone pain; fractures; kidney stones; muscle weakness; fatigue
Root Cause:
Autonomous overproduction of PTH due to prolonged secondary hyperparathyroidism, usually in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Elevated PTH and calcium levels despite resolution of hypocalcemia; imaging studies to assess parathyroid gland hyperplasia.
Treatment:
Parathyroidectomy is often required. Non-surgical management includes medications to manage calcium and phosphate levels.
Medications:
Calcimimetics (e.g., cinacalcet to lower PTH levels), bisphosphonates (to prevent bone loss), and vitamin D analogs (e.g., calcitriol ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in 15–20% of patients with long-standing secondary hyperparathyroidism, typically after years of dialysis.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Long-standing secondary hyperparathyroidism, end-stage renal disease, and inadequate treatment of calcium-phosphate imbalances.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate surgical or medical management; untreated cases can lead to significant morbidity.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe hypercalcemia, bone deformities, cardiovascular calcifications, and organ dysfunction.
Post-Surgical Hypoparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hypoparathyroidism
Symptoms:
muscle cramps; tingling or numbness in fingers and toes; seizures; fatigue; anxiety; brittle nails; hair thinning
Root Cause:
Removal or damage to the parathyroid glands during neck surgery (e.g., thyroidectomy) results in insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH), leading to low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) and elevated phosphate levels (hyperphosphatemia).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing low PTH levels, low serum calcium, high serum phosphate, and potentially low magnesium levels. Clinical history of recent neck surgery.
Treatment:
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation (active forms such as calcitriol) to maintain normal blood calcium levels. Severe cases may require intravenous calcium administration.
Medications:
Oral calcium carbonate or calcium citrate, calcitriol (active vitamin D), and, in severe or refractory cases, recombinant parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-84 or PTH 1-34). These medications are classified as mineral supplements, vitamin D analogs, or hormone replacement therapy.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in 1–7% of patients following thyroid or parathyroid surgery.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Extensive neck surgery, inadvertent damage to or removal of parathyroid glands, lack of surgical expertise.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper management, patients can achieve stable calcium levels, although lifelong treatment may be necessary.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic hypocalcemia can lead to cataracts, basal ganglia calcifications, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures.
Autoimmune Hypoparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hypoparathyroidism
Symptoms:
tetany; paresthesia; muscle weakness; fatigue; depression; dry skin; brittle nails
Root Cause:
The immune system mistakenly attacks the parathyroid glands, reducing or eliminating PTH production, leading to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing low PTH, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia, along with autoimmune markers (e.g., anti-parathyroid antibodies). Diagnosis may also include ruling out other causes of hypoparathyroidism.
Treatment:
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation (e.g., calcitriol), and in some cases, immunosuppressive therapy to manage autoimmune activity.
Medications:
Calcium carbonate or citrate, calcitriol , recombinant PTH, and occasionally corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants to control autoimmune responses.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; autoimmune hypoparathyroidism is a component of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1).
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic predisposition, coexisting autoimmune disorders, family history of APS-1.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lifelong management is often required, but with appropriate treatment, most patients maintain adequate calcium levels.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Similar to post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, with additional risks from associated autoimmune diseases.
Congenital Hypoparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hypoparathyroidism
Symptoms:
failure to thrive in infancy; seizures; muscle cramps; weakness; tingling sensations; developmental delays
Root Cause:
Abnormal development of the parathyroid glands due to genetic mutations (e.g., mutations in the GATA3 or CASR genes) or syndromic associations like DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Genetic testing, blood tests showing low PTH, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Imaging studies (e.g., echocardiography) may reveal associated congenital abnormalities.
Treatment:
Calcium and active vitamin D supplementation to correct hypocalcemia. In severe cases, recombinant PTH may be used. Addressing associated congenital abnormalities is also critical.
Medications:
Calcium carbonate or citrate, calcitriol , and recombinant PTH for resistant cases. Medications include mineral supplements and vitamin D analogs.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; varies depending on the specific genetic cause or syndrome.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic mutations, family history, syndromic conditions such as DiGeorge syndrome.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With early diagnosis and treatment, many patients achieve stable calcium levels and lead relatively normal lives, though some may experience developmental delays.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures, cardiac issues (in syndromic cases), and long-term complications of hypocalcemia.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Parathyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Other Parathyroid Disorders
Symptoms:
numbness or tingling in the fingers, toes, or lips; muscle cramps; spasms (tetany); fatigue; short stature; round face; skeletal abnormalities (e.g., shortened fourth and fifth metacarpals/metatarsals)
Root Cause:
Body tissues are resistant to parathyroid hormone (PTH), leading to low calcium levels and high phosphate levels despite normal or elevated PTH levels.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for calcium, phosphate, and PTH levels; genetic testing for GNAS mutations; X-rays to detect skeletal abnormalities.
Treatment:
Management of calcium and phosphate imbalance through supplementation and dietary modifications.
Medications:
Calcium supplements and active forms of vitamin D (e.g., calcitriol ) to correct hypocalcemia. In some cases, phosphate binders may be prescribed. These are classified as mineral supplements and vitamin D analogs.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 200,000 individuals.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic inheritance of GNAS mutations; autosomal dominant transmission.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally manageable with appropriate treatment, though complications can arise if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures due to severe hypocalcemia, dental abnormalities, and potential chronic kidney disease from hyperphosphatemia.