Parathyroid  Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism, or under functioning of the parathyroid glands, is a rare condition that typically occurs as a consequence of damage during parathyroid or thyroid surgery.
For a few individuals, hypoparathyroidism presents itself at a young age from an unknown cause—so called spontaneous hypoparathyroidism.
Symptoms
Hypoparathyroidism results in low blood calcium occurring immediately following parathyroid or thyroid surgery or more chronically in the case of spontaneous hypoparathyroidism.
Clinical symptoms include:
- Tingling of the fingertips, lips or feet
- Muscle cramps or numbness
- Dysarthria (slurred speech)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Carpopedal spasm (contractions of the hands or feet)
- Convulsions
- Laryngeal edema (excess of fluid in the larynx) and stridor (harsh vibrating sound during air passage through the larynx)
- Mental changes
- Cataracts
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism is made based on physical examination findings and confirmed by laboratory tests indicating decreased blood calcium levels.
PTH levels in chronically low states or suspected postoperative hypoparathyroidism are helpful in both diagnosing the condition and determining the need for ongoing therapy.
Treatment
The treatment options for this disorder include:
- Oral or intravenous calcium supplementation
- Oral Vitamin D preparations
- PTH (parathyroid hormone) replacement
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