Symptoms:

These resemble hypocalcaemia raising excitability of nerve and muscle:

– Tetany –> muscle twitching, cramping and spasm

– Gives numbness and tingling around mouth (circumoral)

– Trousseau sign – inflating cuff above systolic BP –> muscle contraction due to increase excitability

– Chvostek sign – tap on zygomatic bone –> twitching of facial muscle as it is more excitable.

Diagnosis:

Blood test shows decreased PTH and decreased Ca2+, but ­increased Phosphate

Management:

Calcium supplements + Alfacalcidol (synthetic Vitamin D₃) 

Pseudohypoparathyroidism

 This occurs due to a failure of the organs to respond to PTH

– Can be autosomal dominant – characterized by short stature with short 4th and 5th digits, round face

– Alternate form is pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism – same features but with normal biochemistry

Diagnosis:

– Blood test shows decreased Ca2+, but ­increased Phosphate and ­PTH

– During infusion of PTH, urinary cAMP and Phosphate do not rise unlike in hypoparathyroidism.

Management:

Calcium supplements + Alfacalcidol (synthetic Vitamin D3) 

b) Excess of PTH

Primary Hyperparathyroidism

This is a condition which leads to excess PTH due to a disorder of the parathyroid gland itself

Causes: 

80% due to parathyroid adenoma, also due to parathyroid hyperplasia or parathyroid carcinoma

Symptoms:

It often feels asymptomatic, but there are signs related to high serum calcium:

– Bones –> Ectopic calcification (e.g. cornea) and bone pain (due to bone resorption)

– Stones –> Renal stones and renal failure

– Groans –> Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation and weakness

– Psychic Moans –> Confusion + irritability + Depression

Diagnosis:

– Blood test ­increased PTH (can be normal), ­increased Ca2+, increased ­urinary cAMP, increased ­ALP and decreased Phosphate

– Urine Calcium: creatinine clearance ratio > 0.01

– X-ray –> osteitis fibrosa cystica of phalanges + “pepper-pot” skull appearance

Treatment:

– If Ca2+ is mildly raised and there is no organ damage, conservatively give fluids

– If moderate to severe, surgical total parathyroidectomy or cinacalcet if unsuitable for surgery.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

This is excess PTH due to a disease extrinsic to gland

– The most common cause is chronic renal failure.

– Renal insufficiency gives decreased phosphate excretion so Phosphate binds serum Ca2+

– Less free calcium stimulates parathyroid glands to secrete excess PTH

Diagnosis:

Blood test shows ­increased PTH + ­ALP + ­Phosphate but decreased  Ca2+ and Vitamin D

Treatment:

Vitamin D supplements,  else surgery if bone pain/pruritus/ectopic calcifications.

Tertiary hyperparathyroidism

This occurs after prolonged secondary hyperparathyroidism, causing glands to act autonomously after undergoing hyperplasia, which is seen in chronic renal failure

– Leads to increased Calcium from unlimited PTH secretion

– ­Increased PTH, ­Calcium, ­urinary cAMP, ­ALP

– Decreased Phopshate and Vitamin D 

Malignant hyperparathyroidism

Parathyroid-related protein is produced by some squamous cell lung, breast and renal carcinomas

– This protein mimics PTH resulting in increased calcium

Treatment:

Need to treat the underlying cancer