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Hyperparathyroidism
Clinical feature:
Definition: Abnormally elevated plasma levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) define hyperparathyroidism. The cause is hyperfunction of one or more parathyroid glands or ectopic parathyroid hormone production.
Diagnostics:
Differential: Hyperparathyroidism can be classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary forms. Only in primary hyperparathyroidism a mutated gene may be the cause. Secondary hyperparathyroidism results from prolonged hypocalcaemia or vitamin D deficiency as it occurs most often in chronic renal failure. In secondary hyperparathyroidism, there may exist a genetic disposition, however. The same perhaps holds true in tertiary hyperparathyroidism, in which after prolonged secondary hyperparathyroidism, an autonomous gland function develops.
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