Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Hypoparathyroidism

In medicine (endocrinology), hypoparathyroidism is decreased function of the parathyroid glands, leading to decreased levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The consequence, hypocalcemia, is a serious medical condition. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Hairy cell leukemia
Hallermann Streiff syndrome
Hallux valgus
Hantavirosis
Hantavirus pulmonary...
HARD syndrome
Harlequin type ichthyosis
Harpaxophobia
Hartnup disease
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Hearing impairment
Hearing loss
Heart block
Heavy metal poisoning
Heliophobia
HELLP syndrome
Helminthiasis
Hemangioendothelioma
Hemangioma
Hemangiopericytoma
Hemifacial microsomia
Hemiplegia
Hemoglobinopathy
Hemoglobinuria
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
Hemophilia A
Hemophobia
Hemorrhagic fever
Hemothorax
Hepatic encephalopathy
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatoblastoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatorenal syndrome
Hereditary amyloidosis
Hereditary angioedema
Hereditary ataxia
Hereditary ceroid...
Hereditary coproporphyria
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Hereditary fructose...
Hereditary hemochromatosis
Hereditary hemorrhagic...
Hereditary...
Hereditary spastic...
Hereditary spherocytosis
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome
Hermaphroditism
Herpangina
Herpes zoster
Herpes zoster oticus
Herpetophobia
Heterophobia
Hiccups
Hidradenitis suppurativa
HIDS
Hip dysplasia
Hirschsprung's disease
Histoplasmosis
Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin's disease
Hodophobia
Holocarboxylase...
Holoprosencephaly
Homocystinuria
Horner's syndrome
Horseshoe kidney
Howell-Evans syndrome
Human parvovirus B19...
Hunter syndrome
Huntington's disease
Hurler syndrome
Hutchinson Gilford...
Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome
Hydatidiform mole
Hydatidosis
Hydranencephaly
Hydrocephalus
Hydronephrosis
Hydrophobia
Hydrops fetalis
Hymenolepiasis
Hyperaldosteronism
Hyperammonemia
Hyperandrogenism
Hyperbilirubinemia
Hypercalcemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Hyperchylomicronemia
Hypereosinophilic syndrome
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperimmunoglobinemia D...
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemic periodic...
Hyperlipoproteinemia
Hyperlipoproteinemia type I
Hyperlipoproteinemia type II
Hyperlipoproteinemia type...
Hyperlipoproteinemia type IV
Hyperlipoproteinemia type V
Hyperlysinemia
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperprolactinemia
Hyperreflexia
Hypertension
Hypertensive retinopathy
Hyperthermia
Hyperthyroidism
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypoaldosteronism
Hypocalcemia
Hypochondrogenesis
Hypochondroplasia
Hypoglycemia
Hypogonadism
Hypokalemia
Hypokalemic periodic...
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypophosphatasia
Hypopituitarism
Hypoplastic left heart...
Hypoprothrombinemia
Hypothalamic dysfunction
Hypothermia
Hypothyroidism
Hypoxia
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Signs, symptoms and diagnosis

Hypocalcemia is the only real result of parathyroid dysfunction and low PTH levels. This presents with tremor, tetany and, eventually, convulsions.

In contrast to hyperparathyroidism (hyperfunction of the parathyroids), hypoparathyroidism does not have consequences for bone.

Diagnosis is by measurement of calcium, albumin (for correction) and PTH in blood. PTH degrades rapidly at ambient temperatures and the blood sample therefore has to be transported to the laboratory on ice.

If necessary, measuring cAMP (cyclic AMP) in the urine after an intravenous dose of PTH can help in the distinction between hypoparathyroidism and other causes.

Differential diagnoses are:

  • Pseudo-hypoparathyroidism (normal PTH levels but tissue insensitivity to the hormone, associated with mental retardation and skeletal deformities) and pseudo-pseudo-hypoparathroidism (sic).
  • Deficiency of Vitamin D or hereditary insensitivity to this vitamin (X-linked dominant).
  • Malabsorption
  • Kidney disease
  • Medication: steroids, diuretics, some antiepileptics.

Causes

Hypoparathyroidism can have a number of divergent causes:

  • Removal of the parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) is a recognised cause. It is now uncommon, as surgeons generally spare them during the procedure after identifying them.
  • Autoimmune invasion and destruction is the most common non-surgical cause. It can occur as part of autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes (see there).
  • Hemochromatosis can lead to iron accumulation and consequent dysfunction of a number of endocrine organs, including the parathyroids.
  • Absence or dysfunction of the parathyroid glands is one of the components of chromosome 22q11 microdeletion syndrome (other names: DiGeorge syndrome, Schprintzen syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome).
  • Magnesium deficiency
  • Some very rare diseases
  • Idiopathic (of unknown cause), occasionally familial

Treatment

Severe hypocalcemia, a potentially life-threatening condition, is treated as soon as possible with intravenous calcium (e.g. as calcium gluconate). Generally, a central venous catheter is recommended, as the calcium can irritate peripheral veins and cause phlebitis.

Long-term treatment of hypoparathyroidism is with calcium and Vitamin D3 supplementation (D1 is ineffective in the absence of renal conversion). Teriparatide, a synthetic form of PTH (presently registered for osteoporosis) might become the treatment of choice for PTH supplementation, although further studies are awaited.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : Hypoparathyroidism $2.30 21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Parathyroid Disorders, Hyperparathyroidism, Hypoparathyroidism, Authoritative Government Documents, Clinical References, ... for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM) $25.00
The psychiatric aspects of hypoparathyroidism, (Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum 164) Maori art and pseudo-hypoparathyroidism : A medical contribution to prehistoric anthropology

Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism is the result of a decrease in production of parathyroid hormones by the parathyroid glands located behind the thyroid glands in the ...
Oestrogen and calcium homeostasis in women with hypoparathyroidism - Lesson of the Week
Three cases are presented of women with hypoparathyroidism who developed excessive blood levels of calcium when their estrogen levels changed. Two were ...
Hypovitaminosis D and `functional hypoparathyroidism'—the NoNoF study - Nottingham Neck of Femur - Statistical Data Included - Abstract
Background: calcium and vitamin D deficiency are common in elderly people and lead to increased bone loss, with an enhanced risk of osteoporotic fractures.
ECG Changes in a 25-Year-Old Woman With Hypocalcemia Due to Hypoparathyroidism - )
Hypocalcemia Mimicking Acute Myocardial Infarction The case of a 25-year-old woman presenting with chest pain, ECG changes, and laboratory findings ...
Most women treated for osteoporosis are deficient in vitamin D
WASHINGTON -- More than half of North American women receiving treatment for osteoporosis have suboptimal serum vitamin D levels, Anne E. de Papp, M.D., ...
Parathyroiditis
Parathyroiditis is a rare and poorly understood condition. Chronic parathyroiditis may occur in patients with hypoparathyroidism, as well as in those ...
Vitamin D3 more potent than vitamin D2
Twenty healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a single 50,000-IU dose of either vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia, a low bood calcium level, occurs when the concentration of free calcium ions in the blood falls below 4.0 mg/dL (dL=one tenth of a liter).

Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay