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Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Cancer-related hypercalcemia is a common finding typically seen in patients with advanced cancer and occurs in about 20 to 30 percent of cases. The most common cause of... (Review)
Review
Cancer-related hypercalcemia is a common finding typically seen in patients with advanced cancer and occurs in about 20 to 30 percent of cases. The most common cause of hypercalcemia in hospitalized patients is hypercalcemia due to malignancy.This clinical problem is seen in patients with both solid tumors and patients with hematologic malignancies. Hypercalcemia is associated with a poor prognosis in oncology patients. This pathologic condition can occur due to many different mechanisms but is usually caused by abnormal calcium use resulting from bone resorption, intestinal absorption, or renal excretion. Hypercalcemia may present with a wide range of symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal system symptoms to neurologic symptoms. Timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment by the physician significantly reduce the risk of complications. Treatment aims to decrease serum calcium by increasing calciuresis, decreasing bone resorption, and decreasing intestinal calcium absorption. The mainstays of treatment are IV hydration, bisphosphonates and calcitonin, denosumab, and in some patients, prednisone, and cinacalcet. Patients with underlying advanced kidney disease and refractory severe hypercalcemia should be evaluated for hemodialysis. Every physician dealing with oncology patients should know the fastest and most effective management of hypercalcemia. We aimed to contribute in this sense.
Topics: Humans; Hypercalcemia; Calcium; Neoplasms; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Bone Resorption
PubMed: 37033238
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1039490 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Oct 2018Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) causes hypercalcemia by three genetic mechanisms: inactivating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor, the G-protein... (Review)
Review
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) causes hypercalcemia by three genetic mechanisms: inactivating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor, the G-protein subunit α, or adaptor-related protein complex 2, sigma 1 subunit. While hypercalcemia in other conditions causes significant morbidity and mortality, FHH generally follows a benign course. Failure to diagnose FHH can result in unwarranted treatment or surgery for the mistaken diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), given the significant overlap of biochemical features. Determinations of urinary calcium excretion greatly aid in distinguishing PHPT from FHH, but overlap still exists in certain cases. It is important that 24-h urine calcium and creatinine be included in the initial workup of hypercalcemia. FHH should be considered if low or even low normal urinary calcium levels are found in what is typically an asymptomatic hypercalcemic patient. The calcimimetic cinacalcet has been used to treat hypercalcemia in certain symptomatic causes of FHH.
Topics: Adaptor Protein Complex 2; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary; Kidney Diseases; Mutation; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing
PubMed: 30449544
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2018.05.004 -
American Family Physician May 2003Hypercalcemia is a disorder commonly encountered by primary care physicians. The diagnosis often is made incidentally in asymptomatic patients. Clinical manifestations... (Review)
Review
Hypercalcemia is a disorder commonly encountered by primary care physicians. The diagnosis often is made incidentally in asymptomatic patients. Clinical manifestations affect the neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, renal, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems. The most common causes of hypercalcemia are primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy. Some other important causes of hypercalcemia are medications and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. An initial diagnostic work-up should include measurement of intact parathyroid hormone, and any medications that are likely to be causative should be discontinued. Parathyroid hormone is suppressed in malignancy-associated hypercalcemia and elevated in primary hyperparathyroidism. It is essential to exclude other causes before considering parathyroid surgery, and patients should be referred for parathyroidectomy only if they meet certain criteria. Many patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have a benign course and do not need surgery. Hypercalcemic crisis is a life-threatening emergency. Aggressive intravenous rehydration is the mainstay of management in severe hypercalcemia, and antiresorptive agents, such as calcitonin and bisphosphonates, frequently can alleviate the clinical manifestations of hypercalcemic disorders.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Diuretics; Drug Overdose; Fluid Therapy; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism; Neoplasms; Vitamin D
PubMed: 12751658
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research :... Nov 2017Hypercalcemia is defined as a serum calcium concentration that is greater than two standard deviations above the normal mean, which in children may vary with age and... (Review)
Review
Hypercalcemia is defined as a serum calcium concentration that is greater than two standard deviations above the normal mean, which in children may vary with age and sex, reflecting changes in the normal physiology at each developmental stage. Hypercalcemic disorders in children may present with hypotonia, poor feeding, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, lethargy, polyuria, dehydration, failure to thrive, and seizures. In severe cases renal failure, pancreatitis and reduced consciousness may also occur and older children and adolescents may present with psychiatric symptoms. The causes of hypercalcemia in children can be classified as parathyroid hormone (PTH)-dependent or PTH-independent, and may be congenital or acquired. PTH-independent hypercalcemia, ie, hypercalcemia associated with a suppressed PTH, is commoner in children than PTH-dependent hypercalcemia. Acquired causes of PTH-independent hypercalcemia in children include hypervitaminosis; granulomatous disorders, and endocrinopathies. Congenital syndromes associated with PTH-independent hypercalcemia include idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH), William's syndrome, and inborn errors of metabolism. PTH-dependent hypercalcemia is usually caused by parathyroid tumors, which may give rise to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) or tertiary hyperparathyroidism, which usually arises in association with chronic renal failure and in the treatment of hypophosphatemic rickets. Acquired causes of PTH-dependent hypercalcemia in neonates include maternal hypocalcemia and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. PHPT usually occurs as an isolated nonsyndromic and nonhereditary endocrinopathy, but may also occur as a hereditary hypercalcemic disorder such as familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, neonatal severe primary hyperparathyroidism, and familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism, and less commonly, as part of inherited complex syndromic disorders such as multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). Advances in identifying the genetic causes have resulted in increased understanding of the underlying biological pathways and improvements in diagnosis. The management of symptomatic hypercalcemia includes interventions such as fluids, antiresorptive medications, and parathyroid surgery. This article presents a clinical, biochemical, and genetic approach to investigating the causes of pediatric hypercalcemia. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Topics: Child; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Parathyroid Hormone; Reference Values; Vitamin D
PubMed: 28914984
DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3296 -
Nature Reviews. Endocrinology Feb 2018In this Review, we describe the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), with a focus on recent advances in the field. PHPT is a... (Review)
Review
In this Review, we describe the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), with a focus on recent advances in the field. PHPT is a common endocrine disorder that is characterized by hypercalcaemia and elevated or inappropriately normal serum levels of parathyroid hormone. Most often, the presentation of PHPT is asymptomatic in regions of the world where serum levels of calcium are routinely measured. In addition to mild hypercalcaemia, PHPT can manifest with osteoporosis and hypercalciuria as well as with vertebral fractures and nephrolithiasis, both of which can be asymptomatic. Other clinical forms of PHPT, such as classical disease and normocalcaemic PHPT, are less common. Parathyroidectomy, the only curative treatment for PHPT, is recommended in patients with symptoms and those with asymptomatic disease who are at risk of progression or have subclinical evidence of end-organ sequelae. Parathyroidectomy results in an increase in BMD and a reduction in nephrolithiasis. Various medical therapies can increase BMD or reduce serum levels of calcium, but no single drug can do both. More data are needed regarding the neuropsychological manifestations of PHPT and the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to sporadic PHPT, as well as on risk factors for complications of the disorder. Future work that advances our knowledge in these areas will improve the management of the disorder.
Topics: Disease Management; Disease Progression; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary; Osteoporosis; Parathyroid Hormone; Parathyroidectomy
PubMed: 28885621
DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.104 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Feb 2022Calcium is the most abundant extracellular cation in the body, and it is responsible for structural and enzymatic functions. Calcium homeostasis is regulated by 3... (Review)
Review
Calcium is the most abundant extracellular cation in the body, and it is responsible for structural and enzymatic functions. Calcium homeostasis is regulated by 3 factors: calcitonin, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Hypercalcemia is defined by a serum calcium concentration >10.5 mg/dL, and it is classified into mild, moderate, and severe, depending on calcium values. Most cases are caused by primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancies. Various mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of hypercalcemia, such as excessive PTH production, production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrp), bone metastasis, extrarenal activation of vitamin D, and ectopic PTH secretion. The initial approach is similar in most cases, but a definitive treatment depends on etiology, that is why etiological investigation is mandatory in all cases. The majority of patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed during routine exams; only a small percentage of patients present with severe manifestations which can affect neurological, muscular, gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular systems. Clinical manifestations are related to calcium levels, with higher values leading to more pronounced symptoms. Critically ill patients should receive treatment as soon as diagnosis is made. Initial treatment involves vigorous intravenous hydration and drugs to reduce bone resorption such as bisphosphonates and, more recently, denosumab, in refractory cases; also, corticosteroids and calcitonin can be used in specific cases. This review aims to provide a clinical update on current concepts of the pathophysiology of calcium homeostasis, epidemiology, screening, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of hypercalcemia.
Topics: Calcium; Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; Disease Management; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Hypercalcemia
PubMed: 35217631
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.935821 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Jun 2017Hypercalcaemia is a common disorder normally caused by primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) or malignancy. A proportion of cases present as an emergency, which carries a... (Review)
Review
Hypercalcaemia is a common disorder normally caused by primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) or malignancy. A proportion of cases present as an emergency, which carries a significant mortality. Emergency management of hypercalcaemia is based on intravenous rehydration with normal saline but when this is inadequate, bisphosphonate therapy is used; more recently the novel anti-resorbtive agent denosumab has been shown to have a useful role in treatment. It is estimated that up to 10% of all cases of PHPT presenting under the age of 45 years have an underlying genetic predisposition; nine potentially causative genes are now recognised and may be screened in routine clinical practice. Although parathyroidectomy is the only curative treatment for PHPT, this is indicated in a minority of cases. Many cases can be adequately managed conservatively and guidance from the 4th international workshop on the management of asymptomatic PHPT has recently been updated in a consensus statement.
Topics: Diphosphonates; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary; Parathyroidectomy
PubMed: 28572230
DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-270 -
British Journal of Hospital Medicine... Jun 2022Hypercalcaemia is a common metabolic abnormality and its differential diagnosis is vast. Immobility is an uncommon cause of hypercalcaemia. Immobilisation hypercalcaemia... (Review)
Review
Hypercalcaemia is a common metabolic abnormality and its differential diagnosis is vast. Immobility is an uncommon cause of hypercalcaemia. Immobilisation hypercalcaemia is independent of parathyroid hormone and is associated with low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. In addition, it is characterised by elevated levels of markers of bone resorption and low levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, highlighting an imbalance of bone remodelling favouring osteoclastic bone resorption. Although immobilisation hypercalcaemia is a diagnosis of exclusion, physicians need to be aware of this condition to avoid excessive and invasive investigations when all other causes of parathyroid hormone-independent hypercalcaemia have been excluded. Management of immobilisation hypercalcaemia revolves around early mobilisation and rehabilitation together with pharmacotherapeutic agents such as intravenous isotonic saline, calcitonin and bisphosphonates. Denosumab may be a potential alternative yet off-label treatment for immobility hypercalcaemia in patients with renal insufficiency.
Topics: Bone Resorption; Diagnosis, Differential; Diphosphonates; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Parathyroid Hormone
PubMed: 35787163
DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2021.0624 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023
Topics: Humans; Hypercalcemia; Cinacalcet; Calcium; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37780626
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1281731 -
American Journal of Kidney Diseases :... Apr 2022
Topics: Humans; Hypercalcemia; Kidney; Polyuria
PubMed: 35331383
DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2021.09.030