| Hyperparathyroidism is the result of the overproduction | | | | - Kidney stones |
| of a hormone called parathyroid hormone from the | | | | - Excessive urination |
| parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands are located | | | | - High blood pressure |
| in the neck, near or attached to the back side of the | | | | Signs and tests of Secondary hyperparathyroidism |
| thyroid gland. They produce parathyroid hormone, | | | | Tests may show: |
| which controls calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D | | | | Elevated intact PTH |
| levels within the blood and bone. Hyperparathyroidism | | | | Low serum calcium |
| can occur as one of two types: primary | | | | Abnormal serum phosphorus levels |
| hyperparathyroidism or secondary | | | | - Low if due to absorption problems |
| hyperparathyroidism. | | | | - High if due to kidney failure |
| | | | Elevated serum alkaline phosphates |
| Signs and symptoms of hyperparathyroidism after | | | | Variable vitamin D levels |
| thyroid surgery include hair loss, dry skin, yeast | | | | X-rays may show evidence of osteomalacia, |
| infections, seizures, muscle spasms or cramps | | | | fractures, or bone resorption |
| (typically in feet or hands), deformed nail growth, loss | | | | Low bone mineral density |
| of memory, headaches, and numbness or burning | | | | Abnormal urine calcium levels |
| around the fingers or mouth. Most common symptoms | | | | - Low if the problem is with absortion in the gut |
| of are Thinning bones, leading to an increased risk of | | | | - High if the problem is with the kidneys |
| fractures, Increased thirst and urination due to | | | | Hyperparathyroidism treatment is to restore the |
| increased excretion of calcium in the urine, Nausea, | | | | calcium and mineral balance in the body. Treatment |
| vomiting or loss of appetite, Kidney stones, Muscle | | | | involves calcium carbonate and vitamin D supplements, |
| weakness or fatigue etc. Hypothyroidism may also be | | | | which usually must be taken for life. Blood levels are |
| caused by Low blood magnesium levels, Metabolic | | | | measured regularly to make sure that the dose is |
| alkalosis. | | | | correct. A high-calcium, low-phosphorous diet is |
| Symptoms of Hyperparathyroidism | | | | recommended. There is a new class of drug, |
| - Feeling weak or tired most of the time | | | | calcimimetics, which turns off the action of PTH. At this |
| - General aches and pains throughout your body | | | | point in time, the FDA has only approved this |
| - Abdominal pain | | | | medication for use in hyperparathyroidism that is |
| - Frequent heartburn (because the high calcium level in | | | | secondary tokidney disease or in the rare cases of |
| your blood causes your stomach to make too much | | | | parathyroid cancer. |
| acid) | | | | Patients with vitamin D deficiency are treated with |
| - Nausea | | | | vitamin D, or with other measures to correct |
| - Vomiting | | | | malabsorption. Patients with cancer are usually treated |
| - Loss of appetite | | | | surgically. Patients with chronic kidney failure are usually |
| - Bone and joint pain | | | | treated with calcium supplementation, phosphate |
| - An increase in bone fractures or breaks | | | | restriction, and vitamin D analogs. Dialysis, kidney |
| - Confusion and memory loss | | | | transplantation, or parathyroid surgery may be needed. |