Hypoparathyroidism refers to a set of diseases or situations that cause a decrease in the action of the hormone PTH, also known as parathormony.
This hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands, which are 4 small glands located behind the thyroid and is an important hormone that, along with vitamin D, maintains adequate levels of calcium in the blood.
- Thus.
- When there is a lack of PTH in the body.
- It is common to observe a decrease in blood calcium levels.
- Called hypocalcaemia.
- Which can cause signs such as weakness.
- Muscle spasms.
- Bone disorders.
- Neurological problems or even heart problems.
- Learn more about hypocalcaemia and its causes.
Symptoms of hypoparathyroidism are mainly related to problems caused by PTH inactivity.Then, some signs and symptoms that may occur include:
Because PTH is the calcium regulating hormone, when there is not enough PTH, calcium cannot be adequately absorbed into the gut and is always eliminated in the urine, resulting in low blood calcium levels or hypocalcaemia.
The intensity of symptoms depends on the severity and speed of calcium loss.Many patients with hypoparathyroidism are asymptomatic and show symptoms only when there is a need for more calcium in the body, such as during pregnancy, lactation or the use of calcium-reducing medications..
In more chronic and mild cases, there may also be no symptoms and the disease is detected only in routine tests, or there may be mild symptoms such as tingling and lack of tenderness in the feet, hands or around the mouth.
The main goal of treatment of hypoparathyroidism is to control the decrease in calcium in the body and should be guided by the endocrinologist according to its cause, severity, symptoms and calcemia.
When calcium levels are very low, less than 7.5 mg/dL, severe hypocalcaemia appears and, in these cases, treatment is required in the hospital, with calcium replacement directly in the vein, with calcium gluconate.
When hypocalcaemia is mild and chronic, treatment involves replacing calcium and vitamin D orally.Magnesium helps stimulate PTH production and can therefore be helpful, especially when your levels are also low.Other remedies, such as thiazide diuretics or recombinant PTH replacement, may be recommended by the endocrinologist, as the case may be.
Hypoparathyroidism can be divided into two main types, depending on the causes that lead to PTH inaction:
There is also a third case, called pseudo-hypoparathyroidism, which occurs in inherited diseases, that is, that passes through the genes of the family, from parents to children, and that increase resistance in the organs where the hormone must act.the hormone cannot perform its function even if the parathyroid glands produce it in sufficient quantities.
This type occurs most of the time due to the removal of the parathyroid glands, in cases of treatment of hyperparathyroidism, for example, but can also occur due to accidental damage of the parathyroid glands, this case occurs when surgery is performed on the neck.thyroid, cancer or nodules.Because the structures are very close and the glands are very small, it is sometimes difficult to identify and separate them from other structures.Check when thyroid removal is needed and how recovery is occurring..
This type of hypoparathyroidism is usually triggered by a persistent magnesium deficiency.
Although a slightly low magnesium content can stimulate PTH production, when magnesium is very low and for a long time sends a message to the parathyroid glands so that they do not produce more PTH and always makes the organs insensitive to the hormone, so this is not the case, it can act, causing hypoparathyroidism.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism refers to a set of diseases in which genetic mutations, usually hereditary, make body tissues insensitive to the action of PTH.There are 3 types of pseudohypoparathyroidism, depending on whether they are related to a rare disease called hereditary Albright osteodystrophy and the type of PTH resistance caused.
In response to the lack of action of PTH, the glands grow and attempt to produce more PTH, with normal or even elevated levels of PTH in the blood, but this PTH is unable to act, so the clinical picture is the same as that of PTH.hypoparathyroidism, because it is as if the hormone does not exist, so it cannot be called typical hypoparathyroidism, because in reality the circulating levels of PTH are normal or even elevated, then called pseudo-hypoparathyroidism, which means “similar to hypoparathyroidism”.