Hypoparathyroidism

Signs, Sypmtoms & Complications

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Some of the signs and symptoms of hypoparathyroidism relate to the body's response to lack of parathyroid hormone and insueing hypocalcemia. These signs and symptoms may take a long time to manifest and are very subtle and easily to miss because of the way the endocrine system functions. Some important sighns and symptoms to rememeber are...

Neuromuscular

• abdominal, facial, leg, and feet pain
• Muscle cramps and spasms (tetany, becarefully monitoring air way because they can affect the larynx)
• Parasthesis
• seizures
• possible decrease in consciousness with long standing hypoparathyroidism

Integumentory

• dry scaly skin, brittle nails
• cataracts

Development

• stunted growth
• tooth decay and carries, malformed teeth
• slow mental development

Because hypoparathyroidism directly affects the calciam levels in the body, some of the signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia will occompany the previously listed signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia are...

Neuro/musuloskeletal

• Paresthesia of the fingers and lips (early symptom)
• muscle twitches/tetany
• Painful muscle spasms, can be frequent and are assessed when patient is at rest
• Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
• Positive Chvostek's sign (figure 1)
• Positive Trousseau's sign (figure 2)

Cardiac

• Decreased myocardial contractility
• Decreased heart rate
• Hypotention

Gastrointestinal

• hyperactive bowel sounds
• diarrhea
• abdominal cramping

Also there are some diesase states that occure when hypoparathyroidism is not treated and the hypocalcemia remains unresolved. Here are some posible complications to keep in mind...

• Parkinsonism (from calcification of basal ganglia)
• laryngeal stridor
• Pernicious anemia
• Addison's disease

Figure 1


Figure 2