Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia can be a life-altering condition leading to kidney failure, bone thinning and even heart arrhythmias. However, medical intervention can identify this problem before damage is done. If you think you may have hypercalcemia, talk to your Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic doctor. We’ll help you to understand what’s happening in your body and get you on the path to treatment.

What is hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia is the state of having too much calcium in the blood. Calcium is essential for bone formation, hormone release, muscle contraction, neurotransmission and regulation of electrical activity in the heart. But too much of it can cause bones to break more easily, lead to kidney stones and negatively impact the function of the brain and heart.

What causes hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia can be caused by a variety of factors.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism – the most common cause of hypercalcemia – is a result of the excess release of the parathyroid hormone, which regulates both calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. This excess is due to an enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands, or a growth on one of the glands.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is an inherited condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate calcium.

Poor diet

A diet that has too much calcium in it can lead to milk-alkali syndrome. It is most often due to at least 2,000 milligrams of calcium per day.

Other contributors to hypercalcemia

• Being bed-bound for a long period of time
• Cancerous tumors (i.e., lung cancer, breast cancer)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Infectious or inflammatory diseases
• Kidney failure
• Medications such as lithium and thiazide diuretics

What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia?

Symptoms of hypercalcemia can appear in several ways:

• Abdominal symptoms: Constipation, nausea, pain, poor appetite, vomiting
• Kidney symptoms: Flank pain, frequent thirst, frequent urination
• Muscle symptoms: Twitches, weakness
• Psychological symptoms: Apathy, dementia, depression, irritability, memory loss
• Skeletal symptoms: Bone pain, bowing of the shoulders, fractures due to disease, loss of height, spinal column curvature

How is hypercalcemia diagnosed?

Hypercalcemia is diagnosed primarily by examining levels of calcium or PTH in the blood.

Possible tests for hypercalcemia include:

• Blood tests
• Imaging tests
• Medical and family history review
• Parathyroid hormone tests
• Physical examination
• Urine calcium test

Hypercalcemia risk factors

Hypercalcemia affects less than one percent of the population. However, given the multiple causes of hypercalcemia, several characteristics make it more likely to develop.

• Being female, over 50 and postmenopausal
• Certain cancers, such as of the lung or breast
• Dehydration
• Excessive vitamin D or calcium intake
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Prolonged immobility
• Taking medications, like lithium and thiazide diuretics

How is hypercalcemia treated?

Treatment for hypercalcemia is aimed at the potential cause. For example, people with primary hyperparathyroidism may need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland.

Severe hypercalcemia that requires a hospital stay may be treated with dialysis, diuretic medication, drugs that stop bone breakdown and absorption by the body, intravenous fluids and steroids. To determine your best course of action, talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable health care professionals at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic.