We offer treatments that can effectively manage the disease and help minimize any discomfort and pain. Our team will work with you to decide on the most appropriate treatment plan that will be tailored to you and your needs.
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). High levels of PTH cause blood calcium levels increase (hypercalcemia) and bone density to decrease.
Depending on the extent of your hyperparathyroidism, you and your doctor may choose not to treat it at all. If you have no other symptoms that will improve with treatment and your kidneys are functioning well, your doctor may monitor your blood calcium levels and bone density periodically. If your calcium levels start to increase, or your bone density starts to decrease, you can opt to undergo surgery.
We work with expert teams of surgeons who are specially trained in the removal of parathyroid glands. Surgery is the main treatment for hyperparathyroidism and there are different procedures available. Your surgeon will only remove the glands that have a tumor or become enlarged, after surgery, the remaining parathyroid glands will take over and continue to produce PTH in proper amounts. In rare cases, all four parathyroid glands can be affected. In this instance, your surgeon will remove all but a small portion functioning portion of parathyroid tissue.
There are several treatment options for secondary hyperparathyroidism, depending on the underlying cause of the condition. The most common cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism is low levels of vitamin D in the body, but it can also be caused by calcium deficiency and chronic kidney disease. We can ensure you see the right doctor through our specialized integrated network.
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism develops when the parathyroid glands produce too little PTH and your blood calcium levels decrease (hypocalcemia) and blood phosphorus levels increase (hyperphosphatemia).
If your hypoparathyroidism is mild, you and your doctor may choose not to treat it. Instead your doctor can regularly monitor the levels or calcium and phosphorus in your blood. This will usually be once a month but may decrease overtime to once every six months. If your blood calcium levels start to decrease, or blood phosphorus levels increase, your doctor may advise treatment.
Hypoparathyroidism is usually a chronic disorder so treatment often is lifelong. Your doctor may suggest that you should consultant a dietitian who can advise changes to your diet so that it is high in calcium and low in phosphorus. Alternatively, there is a range of mediation that is useful in easing hypoparathyroidism symptoms and normalizes blood calcium and blood phosphorus levels.
These include:
- Oral calcium supplements – to increase blood calcium levels
- Vitamin D supplements – help your body absorb calcium and remove phosphorus
- Magnesium supplements – to increase magnesium levels, low magnesium can cause hypoparathyroidism
- Thiazide diuretics – to reduce the amount of calcium lost through urination
Diagnosis
Parathyroid conditions are often diagnosed with imaging scans, such as ultrasound and X-ray, and pathology tests such as blood, urine and bone mineral density tests, although your doctor may use other techniques to identify the problem. You may also have other additional tests to find out which treatments are likely to be most effective. Some of these tests are also used to assess how well your treatment is working.
Find your nearest GenesisCare center to find out what diagnostic tests and scans are available in your local area. Our expert team will support you throughout your treatment journey.
