What is hypoparathyroidism? |
|
If you have hypoparathyroidism, your parathyroid glands (tiny pea-shaped glands that are usually located behind the thyroid gland in the neck) may not make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH is an important substance that your body needs to keep the right amount of calcium and phosphorus in your body. When your body has too little PTH, your blood calcium levels drop and your phosphorus levels increase, possibly affecting you in harmful ways. |
|
| What causes hypoparathyroidism? |
|
There are many possible causes of hypoparathyroidism. Your parathyroid glands may have been damaged or removed in an operation, or you may have inherited the condition. This condition can also result from a neck injury that damaged the parathyroid gland, radiation treatment to the neck or an automimmune disease in which your immune system attacks organs in the body. |
|
| What are the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism? |
|
No matter the cause of the condition, hypoparathyroidism can produce many symptoms. It is low calcium that is often responsible for many of these symptoms. You may feel tingling or burning in the fingertips, toes and lips or experience muscle aches or cramps affecting the legs, feet, abdomen or face. You may become nervous or depressed, get headaches, feel weak and tired or find it hard to think clearly. Living with hypoparathyroidism is not easy. It can affect you in many ways, such as irregular heartbeat, tetany (muscle spasm), memory loss, abnormal bones and seizures. |
|
| How is hypoparathyroidism currently treated? |
|
There is no cure for hypoparathyroidism; it is managed with oral calcium tablets and active vitamin D that raise the calcium levels in the body. With this therapy you may be taking many pills per day, which can be inconvenient and can lead to constipation. In addition, large doses of calcium and vitamin D supplementation every day may pose long-term risks to your health. Over time, calcium may build up in your system and can result in kidney stones, kidney damage and even kidney failure. Calcium can also build up in the brain and other tissues. An ideal treatment for hypoparathyroidism would be a therapy that raises blood calcium levels while reducing the need for calcium and vitamin D supplementation. |
|
