Hyperparathyroidism

Signs & Symptoms

Most common is asymptomatic hypercalcemia due to elevated routine blood tests.
Others are associated with effects of hypercalcemia:
- weakness
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- constipation
- polyuria
- shortened attention span
- hypertension
To note, symptoms may be worse if combined with Vitamin D deficiency due to geographic location or nutrition. $fracture.jpg$

Complications

Before the better preventative serum blood testing, these were the presenting signs and symptoms, which are now more complications
- Nephrolithiasis or kidney stones (up to 20% of patients will develop before coming to see a doctor)
- Osteoporosis
- Acute pancreatitis
- Peptic Ulcer
- Fractures
- Neuropsychiatric complications (elderly population): anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, cognitive disturbances
Prolonged hypercalcemia has been linked to cause:
- cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac and vascular wall structural and functional alterations, diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy
  - believed to be caused by the level of PTH and calcium ions' inotropic effect promoting cardiac hypertrophy which is more difficult to reverse if hypercalcemia is prolonged (Pyram, 2011).
- metabolic abnormalities: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease and impairment (Pyram, 2011).
  - believed to be caused by elevated pressor hormone and vascular response to epinephrine due to PTH and calcium levels (Pyram, 2011).
- overall higher mortality rates