Clinical Calcium Flashcards
What is normal calcium level and how do you work out correct calcium
2.2-2.6
Increased albumin will decrease free calcium as binds
Decreased albumin will increase free calcium
For every 10g decrease of albumin below 40 add 0.2 mol to measured calcium
What causes primary hyperparathyroid
Parathyroid adenoma = 80%
Parathyroid hyperplasia
Malignancy - MEN1/2A
Parathyroid cancer = rare
What does primary hyperparathyroid lead too
PTH = high or normal (should be suppressed if Ca high) Calcium = high Phosphate = low as excreted or normal
What are the features of primary PTH / hypercalcaemia
Bone, stones, abdo groans, psychic moans
Dehydration - due to reduced sensitivity to ADH
Polyuria + polydipsia
Renal stones in chronic
AKI in acute
Bone pain Osteoporosis in chronic Weakness Fractures Lytic lesion if due to malignancy
Abdo pain - renal stone / pancreatitis Constipation N+V Anorexia Weight loss Peptic ulcer due to increased gastric secretion
Fatigue / lethargy Depression - chronic Psychosis Altered mental status / confusion Cognitive impairment Seizure Coma
In severe>3.5
HTN due to vasoconstriction - check Ca if HTN
Short QT
Cardiac arrhythmia
What causes secondary hyperparathyroid (decreased Ca but increased PTH)
Low calcium leading to increased PTH which eventually causes parathyroid hyperplasia
Often CKD
Decreased vit D
Leads to low absorption of Ca from intestines, kidney and bone
What does secondary hyperparathyroid lead too
High PTH due to autonomous production after prolonged Doesn't sense calcium Ca low or normal Phosphate elevated or can be decreased Low vit D as CKD
What are the symptoms
Begin to develop bone disease
What causes tertiary hyperparathyroid
On going parathyroid hyperplasia even after correction of renal disease so get high calcium
Will have abnormal U+E’s
High calcium ad high PTH
What does this lead too
PTH high which is inappropriate Ca normal or high Phosphate low or normal Vit D normal or decreased ALP high
What are the symptoms
Metastatic calcification Bone pain Fracture Renal stone Pancreatitis
How do you Rx primary hyperparathyroid and when
Surgical parathyroidectomy / remove tumour if
Raised serum calcium / life threatening
eGFR <60
Renal stone
<50
Neuromuscular Sx
Reduction in bone mineral density / osteoporosis on DEXA
How do you Rx secondary
Medical management of issue
Surgery if bone pain / pruritus / calcification
How do you Rx tertiary
Allow 12 months after transplant for symptoms to resolve
If not may need surgery to remove gland
What is hypercalcaemia requiring urgent correction due to risk of arrhythmia / coma
> 3.5
What are the most common reasons for hypercalcaemia
Primary hyperparathyroid
Malignancy
Do PTH to differentiate
Must rule out these first
Non-parathyroid mediated
- Malignancy = most common
What is also associated with primary hyperparathyroid
Neck radiation
Prolonged lithium
What are non-parathyroid causes of hypercalcaemia
Hypercalcaemia of malignancy Granulomatous - TB / sarcoid Iatrogenic Activation of extra-renal 1 alpha hydroxyls (increases calcitriol) Vit D intoxiation Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia Drugs Endocrine Paget's Parenteral nutrition
What causes hypercalcaemia of malignancy
Local osteolytic - breast / MM / lymphoma (20%)
Humoral - SCC / renal / ovarian (80%)
Lymphoma + ectopic = rare
What is familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia
AD of calcium sensing receptor
Less calcium excreted from body
No Rx needed
What drugs can cause hypercalcaemia with low PTH
K sparing diuretic Thiazide diuretic ACEI Lithium Vit A
What are endocrine causes
Acromegaly
Thyrotoxicosis
Adrenal insufficiency - Addison’s
Phaeochromocytoma
What are symptoms of hypercalcaemia and what are common early and late Sx
Renal GI MSK Neuro CVS
Early
- Polyuria / dispsia / dehydration / anorexia/. fatigue / weakness / hyporeflexia
Late
- Irritable / low mood
- N+V
- Confusion
- Profound weakness
- N+V
- Acute pancreatits
- Pruritus
- Visual
- Sudden death
Renal Sx
Dehydration Polyuria and dipsia due to imparied ADH Hypo of other electrolytes as lost in urine Nephrolithiasis (kidney stone) Nephrogenic DI Renal tubular acidosis
GI Sx
Anorexia / weight loss N+V Constipation Pancreatitis Peptic ulcer Pruritus Ileus
What are MSK Sx
Muscle weakness / myopathy
Bone pain
Osteoporosis
Fractures