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Hyperparathyroidism
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The parathyroid glands exist to make a hormone, parathyroid hormone, almost always abbreviated PTH. In primary hyperparathyroidism, one or more of those glands becomes overactive and, as a result, makes too much PTH. It is as if the calcium thermostat were stuck in the up position.
And since PTH raises calcium, blood calcium ends up too high. That can cause trouble: thinning of the bone and kidney stones, those little stones that form in the kidney. The extra calcium does not come out of thin air: the excess PTH pulls it out of the bone, which is why hyperparathyroidism can noticeably lower bone density, meaning how compact the bone is, and lead to spontaneous fractures or deformities. The reassuring part is that doctors usually catch it early, on routine blood tests, before serious problems show up.
In brief
In primary hyperparathyroidism, one or more of the parathyroid glands is overactive, and as a result the gland makes too much parathyroid hormone, or PTH.
Too much PTH drives blood calcium too high, which can lead to thinning of the bone and kidney stones.
That excess pulls calcium out of bone, and it can lower bone density considerably and lead to spontaneous fractures or deformities.
Doctors usually catch it early on routine blood tests, before serious problems show up.
Sources (2)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesPrimary Hyperparathyroidism
- OpenStax, Rice UniversityAnatomy and Physiology 2e, 17.5 The Parathyroid GlandsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated