Hypercalcemia can be caused by various conditions and can lead to symptoms such as constipation, bone pain, kidney stones, and confusion. Treatment includes fluid replacement, medication, and in severe cases, dialysis.
Hypercalcemia is an elevated level of calcium in the blood. It can be a sign of hyperparathyroidism or excessive parathyroid hormone secretion, a malignancy, a vitamin D metabolic disorder, renal insufficiency, or Paget’s disease of bone, in which there is excessive bone formation and breakdown. While hypercalcemia is often asymptomatic, there are many characteristic symptoms of hypercalcemia.
The higher the calcium levels in the blood, the worse the symptoms of hypercalcemia are. The most common hypercalcemia symptoms are often referred to as “groans, groans, bones, stones, and psychiatric overtones.” Other possible symptoms are increased urination, inflammation of the pancreas, abnormal heartbeat, ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract called peptic ulcers and, in severe cases, coma and heart attack.
The “groans” are caused by constipation, nausea, or vomiting. Anorexia is an associated symptom. “Wailing” refers to the psychotic noises the patient makes, and “bones” refers to bone pain, which is especially common if hyperthyroidism or Paget’s disease is causing the symptoms of hypercalcemia. The “stones” refer to kidney stones, which can present with hypercalcemia in renal failure, and the “psychiatric undertones” can present as depression, fatigue, and confusion.
When symptoms of hypercalcemia occur, it is important to seek a diagnosis. Treatment for hypercalcemia often begins with fluid replacement, increased salt intake, and diuretics. Hydration helps replace fluids lost from vomiting and increased urination, while salt intake and diuretics help the body retain fluids and excrete more sodium and calcium, helping to lower blood calcium levels. blood.
Bisphosphonate and calcitonin medications are used in severe cases to prevent bone resorption, in which bone is broken down and releases calcium into the blood. Calcitonin also prevents the kidneys from reabsorbing calcium, resulting in increased calcium excretion. Other possible drugs, though rarely used, include phosphate, plicamycin, gallium nitrate, and glucocorticoids. If symptoms of hypercalcemia present with kidney failure, dialysis may be needed.
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