Hypoparathyroidism: disease update and new methods of treatment

Abstract

Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by hypocalcaemia and normal or low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is damage to the parathyroid glands during anterior neck surgery. Conventional management of hypoparathyroidism is focused upon maintaining the serum calcium with oral calcium and active vitamin D, often requiring high doses and giving rise to concerns about long-term consequences including extracellular calcification and kidney stones. With current treatment, patients may suffer from large swings in serum calcium and are at a substantial risk of chronic renal failure, extracellular calcification. Replacement therapy of recombinant human PTH(1-84) can open up new opportunities for better control and improvement of quality of life.

Keywords

• : hypoparathyroidism
• hypocalcaemia
• parathyroid hormone
• hyperphosphatemia
• teriparatide
• pth(1-84)