Parathyroid Disorders THOMAS C
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Parathyroid Disorders THOMAS C. MICHELS, MD, MPH, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington KEVIN M. KELLY, MD, MBA, Carl R. Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas Disorders of the parathyroid glands most commonly present with abnormalities of serum calcium. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, the most common cause of hypercalcemia in outpatients, are often asymptomatic or may have bone disease, nephrolithiasis, or neuromuscular symptoms. Patients with chronic kidney disease may develop secondary hyperparathyroidism with resultant chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder. Hypo- parathyroidism most often occurs after neck surgery; it can also be caused by autoimmune destruction of the glands and other less common problems. Evaluation of patients with abnormal serum calcium levels includes a history and physical examination; repeat measurement of serum calcium level; and measurement of creatinine, magne- sium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone levels. The treatment for symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism is parathyroidectomy. Management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism includes monitoring symptoms; serum calcium and creatinine levels; and bone mineral density. Patients with hypoparathyroidism require close monitoring and vitamin D (e.g., calcitriol) replacement. (Am Fam Physician. 2013;88(4):249-257. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians.) CME This clinical content he four parathyroid glands, located 84-amino acid peptide. PTH increases serum conforms to AAFP criteria posterior to the thyroid gland, reg- calcium levels through direct action on bone for continuing medical education (CME). See CME ulate calcium homeostasis through and the kidneys. It stimulates osteoclasts to Quiz on page 227. release of parathyroid hormone resorb bone and mobilize calcium into the T (PTH). Because most parathyroid disorders blood. In the kidneys, PTH acts to reduce Author disclosure: No rel- evant financial affiliations. present with abnormalities of serum cal- calcium clearance and stimulates synthesis cium, they commonly appear in differential of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which stimu- diagnoses. Therefore, understanding the lates calcium absorption in the gastrointes- presentation and principles of evaluation of tinal tract (Figure 1).1,2 In their normal state, parathyroid disorders is important in pri- the glands function to keep serum calcium mary care. levels within a consistent and tightly con- trolled range. The glands synthesize and Pathophysiology store the PTH, allowing it to respond within The parathyroid glands respond to low serum minutes of hypocalcemia. Sustained hypo- calcium levels by releasing PTH, which is an calcemia leads to cellular replication and SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE Evidence Clinical recommendation rating References Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and symptoms or signs should C 25, 26 undergo surgical removal of their parathyroid gland(s). Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who do not undergo C 15, 26 parathyroidectomy should have serum calcium and creatinine levels measured annually, and three-site (i.e., hip, spine, and forearm) bone density measurement every one to two years. Family members of a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 C 10, 21 should be tested for the patient’s specific genetic mutation. A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence; B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evi- dence; C = consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, expert opinion, or case series. For information about the SORT evidence rating system, go to http://www.aafp.org/afpsort. Downloaded from the American Family Physician Web site at www.aafp.org/afp. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians. For the private, Augustnoncommercial 15, 2013 use of◆ Volumeone individual 88, Numberuser of the 4 Web site. All other rights reserved.www.aafp.org/afp Contact [email protected] for copyright questionsAmerican and/or Family permission Physician requests. 249 Parathyroid Disorders increased mass of the glands. Calcium and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D provide negative feedback at the parathyroid glands to inhibit PTH release. One normal gland is sufficient for adequate secretion of PTH to maintain normal calcium levels.1,3,4 Parathyroid disorders most commonly present with serum calcium abnormalities. Decreased Rarely, patients can present with a neck mass serum calcium or for evaluation of a family history of para- thyroid or related disorders. The estimated incidence of primary hyperparathyroidism is approximately 25 cases per 100,000 persons 5-7 Increased serum calcium per year in outpatients of Western countries, with a prevalence of one to four per 1,000 per- 8 Parathyroid sons. Hypoparathyroidism most commonly glands occurs after inadvertent damage or removal of parathyroid glands during neck surgery; Bone estimates for the occurrence of this surgical complication range from 0.5% to 6.6%, with higher rates after repeat neck surgery.1,9 Mul- Parathyroid hormone tiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and type 2 (MEN-2), which often include parathy- roid neoplasia, each occur in about two per Kidney 10 Increased bone 100,000 persons per year. Parathyroid can- resorption cer is rare, with an incidence of approximately four per 10 million persons per year.11 Hyperparathyroidism Increased calcium reabsorption PRIMARY Primary hyperparathyroidism, the most common cause of hypercalcemia in outpa- Intestine tients, is often discovered incidentally dur- 25-hydroxyvitamin D to ing evaluation of serum electrolyte levels. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D Before the easily available measurement of Increased calcium serum calcium levels, patients presented with absorption in the 4,12,13 gastrointestinal tract a spectrum of symptoms (Table 1). Most Negative feedback/ patients today are asymptomatic, with neph- decreased activity rolithiasis occurring in up to 15% of patients, Positive feedback/ bone disease (formerly osteitis fibrosa cys- stimulation tica) occurring in 2% of patients, and neu- romuscular symptoms occurring rarely.3,14,15 ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID KLEMM Figure 1. Control of mineral metabolism by parathyroid hormone Although marked symptoms are uncommon (PTH). Calcium-sensing receptors of parathyroid cells respond to in Western countries, it is important to be serum calcium level and change with increased release (hypocal- aware that subtle and nonspecific symptoms cemia) or suppression (hypercalcemia) of PTH. PTH stimulates bone may be present.14-16 Other causes of hypercal- resorption, which increases serum calcium and phosphorus. In the cemia are listed in Table 2.3,5,8,17,18 kidney, PTH stimulates reabsorption of calcium and promotes phos- phorus excretion. PTH also helps convert 25-hydroxyvitamin D to Overall, 85% of patients with primary 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the kidneys, which then increases intesti- hyperparathyroidism have a single adenoma. nal transport of calcium and phosphorus. Risk factors for primary hyperparathyroid- Information from references 1 and 2. ism include a history of neck radiation, age 250 American Family Physician www.aafp.org/afp Volume 88, Number 4 ◆ August 15, 2013 Table 1. Symptoms Associated with Hypercalcemia Organ system Most common symptoms and possible diagnoses older than 50 years, and female sex; women Cardiovascular Angina, dyspnea, palpitations, syncope are twice as likely as men to develop pri- Possible diagnoses: diastolic dysfunction, dysrhythmias, mary hyperparathyroidism. Multiglandu- hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, vascular calcification lar hyperplasia accounts for 10% to 15% of patients with primary hyperparathyroid- Gastrointestinal Anorexia, constipation, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting ism, and carcinoma accounts for 1% or less. Possible diagnoses: pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease There are also uncommon familial causes, Neuromuscular Anxiety, confusion, depression, fatigue, forgetfulness, such as MEN-1 and MEN-2A; persons with impaired vision, insomnia, lethargy, weakness these conditions may have parathyroid ade- Possible diagnoses: corneal calcification, delirium, mild nomas or asymmetric hyperplasia.8,19 cognitive impairment SECONDARY Renal Polydipsia, polyuria, renal colic Secondary hyperparathyroidism most com- Possible diagnoses: nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus monly occurs because of decreased levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, hyperphospha- Skeletal Arthralgia, bone pain, fractures temia, and hypocalcemia in the setting of Possible diagnoses: bone disease, insufficiency chronic kidney disease. Other causes include fractures, osteomalacia, osteoporosis vitamin D deficiency secondary to low Information from references 4, 12, and 13. dietary intake, lack of sun exposure, mal- absorption, liver disease, and other chronic illness.20 In some patients with advanced renal failure, hypercalcemia is due to progres- Table 2. Causes of Hypercalcemia sion from appropriate parathyroid hyper- plasia to autonomous overproduction of Parathyroid hormone–dependent PTH, a disorder termed tertiary hyperpara- Primary hyperparathyroidism thyroidism.12,20 Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia Patients with normocalcemic hyper- Lithium-associated parathyroidism may present with low bone Tertiary hyperparathyroidism density, osteoporosis, or a fragility fracture. Genetic disorders (e.g., multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or type 2A, familial hyperparathyroidism) Many of these patients will probably evolve