Disorders of Calcium & Bone Flashcards
What are biochemical tests used in a Child with serum Ca < 2.2 mmol/l?
SERUM
- Calcium [Ca]
- Phosphate [P]
- Magnesium [Mg]: Always measure serum magnesium in hypocalcaemia child. The low serum magnesium can impair PTH secretion and can lead to restance of the action of PTH (bone & kidney)
- Parathyroid hormone [PTH]
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25OHD]
- 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]
URINE
- Calcium/Creatinine ratio
How is Srum Calcium Concentration regulated by PTH?
- Low calcium is sensed by the calcium sensing receptor in the parathyroid cell
- PTH leads to increased calcium reabsorption in kidneys and phosphate excretion
- PTH also activates 1α Hydroxylase which leads to calcitriol activation from 25 hydroxyvitamin D. The Calcitriol leads to increased dietary calcium absorption and phosphate absorption
- This leads to maintenance of the serum calcium and this acts on the calcium sensing receptor which leads calcium absorption. Activation of PTH is then switched off.
What are symptoms of Hypocalcaemia?
- Tingling sensation around the mouth & digits
- Muscle cramps
- Tetany
- Focal or Generalised Fits
- Laryngospasm & stridor
- Apnoea
- Cardiac Rhythm disturbance
What are causes of Low Serum Calcium?
- Lab Error
- Low Albumin
- Is serum Magnesium Normal
- Familial Hypocalcaemic Hypercalciuria
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Pseudo-hypoparathyroidism
- Severe Vitamin D Deficiency or Vitamin D Dependent Rickets Type 1 or 2
What are biochemical results for Hypoparathyroidism?
- PTH [Low/Undetectable]
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D [Normal]
- 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D [Low/Normal]
- Calcium [LOW]
- Phosphate [High]
What are biochemical results for Pseudo-hypoparathyroidism?
- PTH [High/Very High]
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D [Normal]
- 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D [Low/Normal]
- Calcium [LOW]
- Phosphate [High]
What are biochemical results for Early vitamin D deficiency?
- 25(OH)D ↓
- Ca [Low normal]
- PTH ↑
- P ↓
- 1,25(OH)2D ↑
- ALP ↑
What are biochemical results for Severe vitamin D deficiency?
- 25(OH)D ↓ ↓
- Ca ↓
- PTH ↑ ↑
- P ↓ ↓
- 1,25-(OH)2D ↓
- ALP ↑ ↑
What are biochemical results for Transient PTH resistance?
- Ca ↓
- P ↑
- 25(OH)D ↓↓
How does Neonatal Hypocalcaemia develop?
EARLY: Usually transient - by day 3-4 of life
- Infants of diabetic mothers
- Perinatal asphyxia
- Severe pre-eclampsia
LATE: Occurs after day 5 of life
- Oral phosphate load, e.g feeding of unmodified Cows milk
- Infants of hyperparathyroid mother
- Severe Vitamin D deficient mothers
- Hypomagnesaemia
- Osteopetrosis
What are genetic causes of impaired synthesis or secretion of PTH?
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Genetic mutations interfering with the production of PTH (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive)
- HDR Syndrome (hypoparathyroidism, deafness, renal anomaly) - GATA 3 mutation
- Sanjad-Sakati or Kenny-Caffey syndromes - TBCE mutation
- Mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and related proteins (autosomal dominant hypocalcemia)
- Mutations interfering with parathyroid gland development (X-linked), GCM1 mutation
- Mitochondrial disorders (eg, MELAS Syndrome, Kearns Sayre syndrome, mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency)
What are autoimmune causes of Impaired synthesis or secretion of PTH?
- Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1)
- Parathyroid or thyroid gland surgery
- Infiltration of parathyroid gland (eg, iron overload)
How is Severe symptomatic treatment of hypocalcaemia managed?
- IV 10% Calcium Gluconate @ 0.11 mmol/kg (0.5 mls/kg – max 20 mls) over 10 minutes
- Continuous IV infusion of Calcium Gluconate @ 0.1 mmol/kg (Max 8.8 mmols) over 24 hours
- Oral Calcium Supplements @ 0.2 mmol/kg (Max 10 mmols or 400 mg Ca) 4 x a day
How is Hypo & Pseudohypoparathyroidism treated?
- Aim to keep serum Ca between 2.0 to 2.2 mmol/l
- Oral Calcium supplements
- Active preparations of Vitamin D: Alfacalcidiol @ 50 ng/kg (Max ~2µg/day)
- Monitoring: Urine Ca/Cr (<0.7), Renal Ultrasound Scan-yearly
What are symptoms of Hypercalcaemia?
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: Nausea, anorexia, vomiting & weight loss
- Renal symptoms: Nephrogenic diabetes like picture – dehydration. Nephrocalcinosis.
- CNS & Musculoskeletal symptoms: Lethargy & muscle weakness. Older children may present with psychiatric symptoms.
- Cardiac effects: Hypertension. Short QT interval