Hypercalcemia

Causes

Calcium is important to many body functions, including:

• Bone formation
• Hormone release
• Muscle contraction
• Nerve and brain function

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Vitamin D help manage calcium balance in the body. PTH is made by the parathyroid glands, which are four small glands located in the neck behind the thyroid gland. Vitamin D is obtained when the skin is exposed to sunlight, and from dietary sources like egg yolks, fish, and fortified foods.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of hypercalcemia. It is due to excess PTH release by the parathyroid glands. This excess occurs due to an enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands, or a growth on one of the glands. (Most of the time, these growths are not cancerous).

Other conditions can also cause hypercalcemia:

• An inherited condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate calcium (familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia)
• Being bed-bound (or not being able to move) for a long period of time (this occurs most often in young people)
• Calcium excess in the diet. This is called milk-alkali syndrome. It is most often due to at least 2,000 milligrams of calcium per day. Taking too much vitamin D may add to the problem.
• Hyperthyroidism
• Kidney failure
• Medications such as lithium and thiazide diuretics (water pills)
• Some cancerous tumors (for example, lung cancers, breast cancer)
• Some infectious and inflammatory diseases such as tuberculosis, Paget’s disease and sarcoidosis

Hypercalcemia affects fewer than 1 in 100 people. The condition is most often diagnosed at an early stage, so most patients have no symptoms.

Women over age 50 (after menopause) are most likely to have hypercalcemia. In most cases, this is due to primary hyperparathyroidism.

Symptoms

Abdominal symptoms:

• Constipation
• Nausea
• Pain
• Poor appetite
• Vomiting

Kidney symptoms:

• Flank pain
• Frequent thirst
• Frequent urination

Muscle symptoms:

• Muscle twitches
• Weakness

Psychological symptoms:

• Apathy
• Dementia
• Depression
• Irritability
• Memory loss

Skeletal symptoms:

• Bone pain
• Bowing of the shoulders
• Fractures due to disease
• Loss of height
• Spinal column curvature

Diagnosis

An accurate diagnosis is needed in hypercalcemia. Patients with kidney stones should have tests to evaluate for hypercalcemia.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at the cause of hypercalcemia whenever possible. People with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland. This will cure the hypercalcemia.

People with mild hypercalcemia may be able to monitor the condition closely over time.

Severe hypercalcemia that causes symptoms and requires a hospital stay may be treated with the following:

• Dialysis
• Diuretic medication
• Drugs that stop bone breakdown and absorption by the body
• Fluids through a vein (intravenous fluids)
• Steroids

Recovery

How well you do depends on the cause of hypercalcemia. The outlook is good for people with mild hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia with a treatable cause. Most of the time, there are no complications.