Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Hypoparathyroidism
Number of Conditions: 3
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.