Revision Flashcards
2 hormones that increase calcium levels
PTH
Calctriol (vit D)
Which hormone decreases calcium? Where is this produced?
Calcitonin - parafollicular cells
Explain how vit D becomes activated
Vit D from diet and UV light is hydoxylated by liver to 25-hydroxy vit D.
Rate limiting step - this is then hydroxylated into activated vitamin D (calctriol) by 1alpha hyroxylase, which itself is activated by PTH.
What is the effect of PTH on the bone, kidneys and small intestines? What is the overall effect?
Bone - increased resportion
Small intestines - increased absorption of calcium
Kidneys - increased calcium reabsorption and phosphate EXCRETION.
Overall effect - increased calcium, decreased phosphate
What is the effect of calctriol on the bone, kidneys and small intestines? What is the overall effect?
Kidneys - increased calcium reabsorption
Bone - increased formation
Small intestines - increased calcium AND phosphate reabsorption
Overall - INCREASED calcium and phosphate
Which hormone is better at increased calcium and dropping phosphate?
Vit D - better at increasing calcium than PTH
PTH - better at dropping phosphate (phosphate trashing hormone)
PTH, ALP calcium and phosphate levels in primary hyperparathyroidism
High or INAPPROPRIATELY NORMAL PTH
Low phosh
High calcium
Normal ALP
PTH, ALP calcium and phosphate levels in secondary hyperparathyroidism due to Vit D deficiency
Vit D low therefore:
Low calcium
Low phosphate
High PTH
High ALP because released by bone (osteomalacia)
PTH, ALP calcium and phosphate levels in secondary hyperparathyroidism due to CKD
Kidneys not functioning, therefore:
High PTH
Low Calcium
However, high phosphate as kidneys can’t excrete it
PTH, ALP calcium and phosphate levels in tertiary hyperparathyroidism
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism is secondary to CKD, therefore:
High PTH High calcium (no negative feedback) High phosphate (because kidneys can't excrete it)
If phosphate is low, what are you thinking?
Vit D deficiency or primary PTH
If phosphate is high, what are you thinking?
CKD
If calcium is high too - tertiary
If calcium low - secondary
Other causes of hypercalcemia
Malignancy
- Bone mets
- Haem - multiple -myeloma (CRAB)
- Paraneoplastic - lung squamous cell cancer
Sarcoidosis
Thiazide diuretics
Multiple myeloma acronym
Calcium high
Renal failure
Anemia
Bone disease
Low PTH causes of low calcium
Surgical complications
Autoimmune hypoparathyroidism
High PTH + low calcium
Osteomalacia (secondary hyperPTH)
Low calcium symptoms
Convulsions
Arrhythmias - prolonged QT
Tetany (increased nerve conduction)
Paraesthesia - numb hands, mouth, feet, lips
CATS go numb
Signs of hypocalcemia
Trousseau’s sign - spasm when tightening BP cuff
Chvostek’s sign - twtiching when touching facial nerve
Which is more likely to be found in pancreatitis - hyper or hypocalcaemia?
Hypocalcemia due to saponification
High calcium causes pancreatitis but then it gets deposited.
Risk factors for primary hyperparathyroidism
MEN 1 or 2
Hypertension
MEN 1 complications
Pancreatic tumours
Parathyroid hyperplasia
Pituitary adenomas