Hyperparathyroidism Endocrine System

What is hyperparathyroidism?

Hyperparathyroidism develops from too much activity in one or more parathyroid glands, the grain-of-rice-sized structures near the thyroid glands in your neck.The parathyroid glands create parathyroid hormone (PTH), which boosts the levels of calcium in the bloodstream when needed. Too much PTH is produced from:

The extra PTH causes the release of calcium from the bones, which can lead to high levels of the mineral in the blood (hypercalcemia) and problems like:

Hyperparathyroidism mainly occurs in patients over 60 but can also develop in younger adults. Risk factors include:

Mild hyperparathyroidism might not cause any symptoms, and is sometimes diagnosed in blood tests before any problems are noticed. Other patients might experience:

Bone or joint pain

Depression

Forgetfulness

Fatigue

Kidney stones

Fragile bones in the limbs and spine

Excessive urine

Nausea and loss of appetite

Other medical conditions may cause the symptoms, though, so always consult your doctor.

Hyperparathyroidism is usually diagnosed with routine blood tests measuring the levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and related minerals. Other possible tests and scans include:

Hyperparathyroidism Treatment

Treatments for hyperparathyroidism depend on:

The suspected cause

The severity of your symptoms

Your preferences

Patients with modestly increased calcium and no symptoms may choose to hold off on interventions and instead visit us for regular checkups and careful monitoring, an approach called “watchful waiting.” Your doctor might also recommend precautions such as:

Taking medication (if the hyperparathyroidism is due to kidney problems)

Drinking more fluids to prevent kidney stones

Exercising

Getting extra vitamin D or calcium

Some kidney failure patients may need dialysis or a transplant. For more severe cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, your doctor may recommend surgically removing overactive glands and any tumors present.

Before surgery, your doctor could decide to pinpoint the problematic gland with:

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