In this Article

• Hypercalcemia Introduction
• What are the causes of hypercalcemia?
• What are the signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia?
• How is hypercalcemia diagnosed?
• How is hypercalcemia treated?
• What is the prognosis for hypercalcemia?
• Can hypercalcemia be prevented?
• Hypercalcemia At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Hypercalcemia - Describe Your Experience
• Hypercalcemia Glossary
• Hypercalcemia Index

What are the causes of hypercalcemia?

One of the most common causes of high calcium levels (hypercalcemia), is an overproduction of parathyroid hormone, or hyperparathyroidism.

• Hyperparathyroidism occurs in 25 out of every 100,000 persons and tends to be more common in women.
  
  
• It can be the result of all four parathyroid glands producing too much PTH (parathyroid hyperplasia), or one gland specifically producing an excessive amount of hormone (usually the result of a parathyroid adenoma, or benign tumor).

Hypercalcemia can occur due to other medical conditions. These conditions can vary in severity and chronicity, and may be life-threatening. Malignancy is a common cause of elevated blood calcium. Up to 20% of individuals with cancer will develop hypercalcemia at some point in their disease.

Other conditions associated with hypercalcemia include:

• Cancers, especially lung cancer and breast cancer
  
  
• Immobilization over a long period of time
  
  
• Kidney failure
  
  
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or excessive thyroid hormone intake
  
  
• Use of certain medications such as the thiazide diuretics
  
  
• Inherited kidney or metabolic conditions
  
  
• Excessive vitamin D levels from vitamins, excessive dietary calcium, or from diseases that may result in excess vitamin D production

Hypercalcemia - Describe Your Experience

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