Chempath 10: Calcium Flashcards
Where does PTH act ?
- Kidneys directly (increased Ca reabsorption, increased PO4 excretion)
- Increases 1 alpha hydroxylase
- Bone (causes increased Ca and PO4 resorption)
What does 1° alpha hydroxylase do ?
Activates vitamin D 25-OH-D3 –> 25- (OH)2-D3
What is the most common cause of 1° hyperparathyroidism?
Parathyroid adenoma
What causes 2° hyperparathyroidism ?
Renal osteodystrophy
(chronic renal failure means less vitamin D activated, so less Ca resorption and less PO4 excretion. low calcium causes PTH release)
What causes 3° hyperparathyroidism ?
Prolonged CKD in 2° hyperparathyroidism causes hyperplasia of the Parathyroid causing autonomous PTH release even when Ca is high.
List 2 causes of hypoparathyroidism ?
1- Di George syndrome
2- Post thyroidectomy
What does vitamin D deficiency cause ?
Rickets in children
Osteomalacia in adults
Which metabolic bone disorder causes looser’s zone fractures and bowing ?
Osteomalacia
What happens in Paget’s disease?
Increased bone remodelling
high PTH
How can sarcoidosis cause hypercalcaemia ?
causes non-renal release of 1 alpha hydroxylase
What are the features of Pseudohypoparathyroidism?
- Type 1a = Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy
- High PTH, low Ca, High PO4
- PTH resistance means low calcium
- syndromic features: low IQ, short stature, short 4th and 5th metacarpals
- Maternal imprinting of an autosomal dominant mutation
What are the features of pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism ?
- same syndromic features as Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy
- Calcium is normal because no PTH resistance
- Paternal imprinting of autosomal dominant mutation
What is the management of hypercalcaemia?
1- Hydration with fluids
2- Bisphosphonates
3- Calcitonin (severe)
What is the management of hypocalcaemia ?
1-Give calcium
CKD: Alpha calcidiol
3- 10% Calcium gluconate IV
Why can Chronic pancreatitis cause Osteomalacia ?
- Chronic pancreatitis causes a reduction in emulsification of fats
- This means less fat soluble vitamins (ADEK) are absorbed from the G.I tract
- Causing a vitamin D deficiency and therefore osteomalacia
Why does Multiple Myeloma not cause a raised ALP ?
- Multiple myeloma only affects osteoclasts
- Osteoblast activity is what releases ALP
List 4 causes of a raised ALP?
- Cholestatic liver disease (also raised GGT)
- Pregnancy (Placenta releases ALP)
- Bone disease (Paget’s, Renal osteodystrophy fracture)
- Drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin, erythromycin)
Why do we use corrected calcium ?
-Because normally 40% of calcium is bound to albumin, so if anything affects albumin it would also affect calcium levels.
Corrected calcium takes albumin into consideration
List 3 causes of hypocalcaemia with elevated phosphate ?
- CKD
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypomagnesaemia
- (Pseudohypoparathyroidism)
List 3 causes pf Hypocalcaemia with normal or low phosphate ?
- Osteomalacia
- Acute pancreatitis
- Respiratory alkalosis
Why does respiratory alkalosis cause Hypocalcaemia ?
- Respiratory alkalosis is most commonly due to hyper ventilation.
- The alkalosis causes increased binding of free calcium to albumin.
- Less free calcium causes hypocalcaemia seen with symptoms such as parasthesia, tetany etc