Parathyroid and Calcium Metabolism Flashcards
What hormone is responsible for the number of receptors in the intestine for absorption of calcium?
Vit D
How many parathyroid glands are present in a patient?
4, 2 on each thyroid
What is the principle cell present in the parathyroid gland?
Chief cells
How does PTH act on the bone?
- Binds to osteoblasts
- Increases activity of osteoclasts to breakdown and release Ca and phosphorus
- Decreases bone density
How does PTH act on the kidney?
- Blocks reabsorption of phosphorus
- Increased excretion of phosphorus
- Increases calcium absorption from tubules
- Activates 1-alpha hydroxyase which stimulates production of Vit D
What is the feedback loop that regulates PTH secretion
↓ Ca = ↑ PTH
↑ Ca = ↓ PTH
How does Vitamin D effect calcium levels?
- Facilitates intestinal absorption of calcium in the gut
What are the actions of calcitonin?
- Reduces blood calcium
- Suppresses reabsorption of Ca+ and phosphorus in kidney, increased excretion
- Inhibits bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclasts
How does hypercalcemia affect kidney function?
Interferes with ADH, can’t concentrate urine, isosthenuric and PU/PD
(nephrogenic diabetes insipidus)
What are the clinical side effects of hypercalcemia?
- PU/PD
- Dystrophic calcification in organs
- Cardiac dysfunction
- Inappetence, V/D
- Constipation in cats
DDx for Hypercalcemia?
DRAGONSHIT
- Vit D toxicity
- Renal failure
- Addisons
- Granulomatous dz
- Osteolysis (fracture, multiple myeloma)
- Neoplasia
- Spurious
- HyperPTH
- Idiopathic
- Toxins (ethylene glycol)
What neoplasias can cause hypercalcemia?
- Anal sac adenocarcinoma
- Mammary carcinoma
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma (from osteolysis)
How can ultrasound help diagnose hyperPTH?
If 1 parathyroid is overreactive, other parathyroid glands are usually small and atrophied
- Overactive parathyroid may be large or normal
What are the causes of secondary hyperPTH, and what would you expect PTH and Calcium levels to be in this case?
- Nutritional deficient Ca+ diet
- Renal dz (loosing too much Ca+)
Secondary hyperPTH: will show ↑ PTH and ↓ Ca
What are the causes of primary hyperPTH, and what would you expect PTH and Calcium levels to be in this case?
Idiopathic hyperplasia of the parathyroid gland
Primary hyperPTH: will show ↑ PTH and ↑ Ca