Parathyroid Gland Flashcards
1
Q
Describe how calcium is absorbed:
A
- GI Calcium Absorption
- 20-70% (highest in children)
- 90% in duodenum and jejunum
- Energy-dependent, cell-mediated process regulated by 1,25(OH)2D
- Passive diffusional paracellular pathway
2
Q
Describe how plasma calcium is increased:
A
low plasma Ca2+ ⇒ ↑ PTH from parathyroid chief cells
-
PTH ⇒ ↑ plasma calcium
- ↑ Ca2+ kidney reabsorption
- ↑ Ca2+ intestinal absorption
- ↑ Ca2+ bone resoprtion
- PTH ⇒ ↑ conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D ⇒ ↑ Ca2+ intestinal absorption
3
Q
Describe the negative feedback for PTH:
A
High plasma Ca2+ ⇒ ↓ PTH secretion
4
Q
- What senses calcium?
- Loss of function ⇒
- Gain of function ⇒
- What can be used to treat severe hyperparathyroidism?
A
- Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) senses calcium (expressed in parathyroid gland, kidney etc)
- Loss of function ⇒ familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH)
- Gain of function ⇒ autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH)
- Calcimimetic (cinacalcet) can be used to treat severe hyperparathyroidism
5
Q
- What are the diffrent vitaminD forms?
- How are they activated?
A
- Vitamin D2 (plant vitamin D or ergocalciferol) consumed
- Vitamin D3 (made in skin or consumed - cholecalciferol)
Activation
- UV light converts the cholesterol derivative
- Both 25-hydroxylated to 25(OH)D at liver in a largely unregulated step (genetic variants may effect this step)
- Both then 1-hydroxylated in kidney to 1,25(OH)2D in a highly regulated step stimulated by PTH
- 24-hydroxylase deactivates 25D
6
Q
Symptoms of Hypercalcemia
A
- Fatigue, weakness
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation
- Anorexia
- Polyuria, polydipsia
- Dehydration
- Memory impairment
- Drowsiness, confusion, coma
- Most ambulatory patients - no clear sx
7
Q
- What can cause hypercalcemia (as it’s related to PTH)?
- What can hypercalcemia result in?
A
- Hypercalcemia is caused by an increase in PTH secretion
-
Primary hyperparathyroidism
- usually a parathyroid adenoma
-
Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Hypercalcemia results in a **suppression of PTH secretion **
- Vitamin D intoxication, Hypercalcemia of malignancy
- caused by PTHrp
- Vitamin D intoxication, Hypercalcemia of malignancy
8
Q
Examples of PTH dependent hypercalcemia:
A
-
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT)
- Sporadic (single and multiple gland disease, carcinoma)
- Multiple endocrine neoplasias (MENs)
- Hyperparathyroidism jaw tumor syndrome
- Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism
- Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH)
- Ectopic PTH – RARE!
9
Q
Primary Hyperparathyroidism:
Physiologic Findings
A
- Decreased sensitivity of PTH-secreting cells to inhibition by plasma Ca2+
- Increased or “inappropriately not suppressed” serum PTH levels
-
Hypercalcemia
- bone resorption
- calcium reabsorption
- increase in 1,25(OH)2D production
-
Hypophosphatemia
- phosphaturic effects of PTH in the proximal tubules
- Some patients are hypercalciuric despite PTH mediated increase in Ca2+ reabsorption in the distal tubules because the filtered load of calcium exceeds the TM for reabsorption
10
Q
Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia (FHH):
- Symptoms
- Urine calcium
- PTH activity
- Inheritance?
- Surgery?
A
- Asymptomatic, modest, lifelong hypercalcemia
- Hypocalciuria
- PTH not suppressed
- Autosomal dominant
- Surgery not indicated
11
Q
Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia:
Genetics
A
-
FHH1: Most families - CaSR (chromosome 3) (~2/3)
- Codominant - neonatal severe hyperparathyrodism
- Recent discovery of FHH2 and FHH 3 genes
- Not all FHH have CaSR mutations
12
Q
Describe the effects on the skeleton in “typical” PHPT:
A
- It is not known if the relationship between BMD and fractures in PHPT similar to that in osteoporosis
- Baseline BMD is more decreased at cortical sites with relative sparing of trabecular bone; subset with spinal osteopenia (~15%).
- Fractures may be increased
- Newer techniques suggest trabecular bone may not be normal
13
Q
Causes of PTH-independent Hypercalcemia:
A
-
Malignancy
- Bone metastases, PTH-related protein, Osteoclast activating factors, Unregulated calcitriol production, True ectopic PTH
-
Calcitriol-mediated (granulomatous, inflammatory)
- Calcitriol is a synonym for 1,25(OH)2D
- Hyperthyroidism
- Milk-alkali syndrome or calcium-alkali syndrome
- Immobilization
- Rare causes
14
Q
What is Parathyroid-Hormone-Related
Peptide (PTHrP)?
A
-
Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy
- breast, lung, kidney, squamous etc.
- N-terminal homology with PTH
- Not measured on PTH assays
- PTHrP assays available
- PTHrP found in normal tissue/high concentrations in milk
- PTHrP important in fetal development
15
Q
What are causes of calcitriol (1,25[OH]2D)-mediated hypercalcemia?
A
Non-renal/unregulated expression of 1-hydroxylase
- Sarcoid
- Lymphoma
- Tuberculosis
- Other less common conditions