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What Causes Primary Hypothyroidism?
have high calcium (10.6), high parathyroid hormone (110), and low vitamin D (18). I have kidney stones and new onset hypertension, malaise, fatigue. I am a 77 yo WF. Otherwise healty except for early stage breast cancer, treated with lumpectomy, radiation, chemo 2 years ago. I just saw an endocrinologist who says I have secondary hyperparathyroidism, that low exposure to sunlight caused low vitamin D which raised my parathyroid hormone. She put me on vitamin D and said to follow up in 3 months. However, I read online that primary hyperparathyroidism could be causing the low vitamin D, and therefore adding vitamin D could make my symptoms worse. What do you think?
Tue, 3 Jun 2014
Hello,
Good day.
This is an interesting question. You have to look at the phosphorus level to get the right answer. Hmm, it is either primary hyperparathyroidism or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. In secondary hyperparathyroidism, calcium levels cant be generally high. Do you have a fasting phosphorus level? That might give a clue .
once the calcium levels start rising, the PTH should fall. That has not taken place in your case. Your calcium is high with a high PTH demonstrating autonomously working parathyroid gland. Hence you either have primary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Evidene from several studies show that moderate amount of calcium and vitamin D supplementation is infact helpful to prevent PTH levels from rising.
Apart from this, you need a kidney function test, a bone density study and urine calcium measurement. This will give clues to the choice of treatment.
Regards
Binu
Good day.
This is an interesting question. You have to look at the phosphorus level to get the right answer. Hmm, it is either primary hyperparathyroidism or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. In secondary hyperparathyroidism, calcium levels cant be generally high. Do you have a fasting phosphorus level? That might give a clue .
once the calcium levels start rising, the PTH should fall. That has not taken place in your case. Your calcium is high with a high PTH demonstrating autonomously working parathyroid gland. Hence you either have primary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Evidene from several studies show that moderate amount of calcium and vitamin D supplementation is infact helpful to prevent PTH levels from rising.
Apart from this, you need a kidney function test, a bone density study and urine calcium measurement. This will give clues to the choice of treatment.
Regards
Binu
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