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As most cases of FHH are asymptomatic and benign, the diagnosis of FHH is less likely to be made.
Typically, diagnosis is made in the pursuit of uncovering the etiology of hypercalcemia.
Calcium levels are often in the high normal range or slightly elevated.
Commonly, the parathyroid hormone level is checked and may be slightly elevated or also on the high normal end.
Normally, high calcium should cause low PTH and so this level of PTH is inappropriately high due to the decreased sensitivity of the parathyroid to calcium.
This may be mistaken for primary hyperparathyroidism.
However, evaluation of urine calcium level will reveal a low level of urine calcium.
This too is inappropriate as high serum calcium should result in high urine calcium.
If urine calcium is not checked, this may lead to parathyroidectomy for presumed primary hyperparathyroidism.
Additionally as the name implies, there may be a family history of benign hypercalcemia.
Ultimately, diagnosis of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is made — as the name implies — by the combination of low urine calcium and high serum calcium.
No treatment is generally required, as bone demineralisation and kidney stones are relatively uncommon in the condition.
The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is made by blood tests.
Serum calcium levels are elevated, and the parathyroid hormone level is abnormally high compared with an expected low level in response to the high calcium. A relatively elevated parathyroid hormone has been estimated to have a sensitivity of 60%-80% and a specificity of approximately 90% for primary hyperparathyroidism.
A more powerful variant of comparing the balance between calcium and parathyroid hormone is to perform a 3-hour calcium infusion. After infusion, a parathyroid hormone level above a cutoff of 14 ng/l has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93% in detecting primary hyperparathyroidism, with a confidence interval of 80% to 100%.
Urinary cAMP is occasionally measured; this is generally elevated.
Biochemical confirmation of primary hyperparathyroidism is following by investigations to localize the culprit lesion. Primary hyperparathyroidism is most commonly due to solitary parathyroid adenoma. Less commonly it may be due to double parathyroid adenomas or parathyroid hyperplasia. Tc99 sestamibi scan of head, neck and upper thorax is the most commonly used test for localizing parathyroid adenomas having a sensitivity and specificity of 70-80%. Sensitivity falls down to 30% in case of double/multiple parathyroid adenomas or in case of parathyroid hyperplasia. Ultrasonography is also a useful test in localizing suspicious parathyroid lesions.
The gold standard of diagnosis is the parathyroid immunoassay. Once an elevated Parathyroid hormone has been confirmed, goal of diagnosis is to determine whether the hyperparathyroidism is primary or secondary in origin by obtaining a serum calcium level:
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism has a high PTH and a high serum calcium. It is differentiated from primary hyperparathyroidism by a history of chronic kidney failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia can present with similarly lab changes. In this condition the calcium creatinine clearance ratio; however, is typically under 0.01.
There is no known treatment at present, although some investigators have tried to lessen the hypercalcemia with various forms of bisphosphonates.
Treatment is usually surgical removal of the gland(s) containing adenomas, but medication may also be required.
If the underlying cause of the hypocalcemia can be addressed, the hyperparathyroidism will resolve. In people with chronic renal failure, treatment consists of dietary restriction of phosphorus, supplements with an active form of vitamin D such as calcitriol, doxercalciferol, paricalcitol, etc. and phosphate binders which can be divided into calcium-based and non-calcium based.
Extended Release Calcifediol was recently approved by the FDA as a treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in adults with stage 3 or 4 chronic �kidney disease (CKD) and low vitamin D blood levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D less than 30 ng/mL). It can help treat SHPT by increasing Vitamin D levels and lowering parathyroid hormone or PTH. It is �not for patients with stage 5 CKD or on dialysis.
In the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic kidney disease on dialysis calcimimetics do not appear to affect the risk of early death. It does decrease the need for a parathyroidectomy but caused more issues with low blood calcium levels and vomiting.
Most people with hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic kidney disease will improve after renal transplantation, but many will continue to have a degree of residual hyperparathyroidism (tertiary hyperparathyroidism) post-transplant with associated risk of bone loss, etc.
The amount of biologically active calcium varies with the level of serum albumin, a protein to which calcium is bound, and therefore levels of "ionized calcium" are better measures than a "total calcium"; however, one can correct a "total calcium" if the albumin level is known.
- A normal "ionized calcium" is 1.12-1.45 mmol/L (4.54-5.61 mg/dL).
- A normal "total calcium" is 2.2-2.6 mmol/L (9-10.5 mg/dl).
- "Total calcium" of less than 8.0 mg/dL is hypocalcaemia, with levels below 1.59 mmol/L (6 mg/dL) generally fatal.
- "Total calcium" of more than 10.6 mg/dL is hypercalcaemia, with levels over 3.753 mmol/L (15.12 mg/dL) generally fatal.
Abnormal heart rhythms can also result, and ECG findings of a short QT interval suggest hypercalcaemia. Significant hypercalcaemia can cause ECG changes mimicking an acute myocardial infarction. Hypercalcaemia has also been known to cause an ECG finding mimicking hypothermia, known as an Osborn wave.
If left untreated, the disease will progress to tertiary hyperparathyroidism, where correction of the underlying cause will not stop excess PTH secretion, i.e. parathyroid gland hypertrophy becomes irreversible. In contrast with secondary hyperparathyroidism, tertiary hyperparathyroidism is associated with hypercalcemia rather than hypocalcemia.
Besides the clinical picture, fasting VIP plasma level may confirm the diagnosis, and CT scan and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy are used to localise the tumor, which is usually metastatic at presentation.
Tests include:
- Blood chemistry tests (basic or comprehensive metabolic panel)
- CT scan of the abdomen
- MRI of the abdomen
- Stool examination for cause of diarrhea and electrolyte levels
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) level in the blood
Various investigations aid the diagnosis.
- ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test
- Cortisol level (to assess the level of glucocorticoids)
- Fasting blood sugar
- Serum potassium (to assess the level of mineralocorticoids)
- Serum sodium
Nephrocalcinosis is diagnosed for the most part by imaging techniques. The imagings used are ultrasound (US), abdominal plain film and CT imaging. Of the 3 techniques CT and US are the more preferred. Nephrocalcinosis is considered present if at least two radiologists make the diagnosis on US and/or CT. In some cases a renal biopsy is done instead if imaging is not enough to confirm nephrocalcinosis. Once the diagnosis is confirmed additional testing is needed to find the underlying cause because the underlying condition may require treatment for reasons independent of nephrocalcinosis. These additional tests will measure serum, electrolytes, calcium, and phosphate, and the urine pH. If no underlying cause can be found then urine collection should be done for 24 hours and measurements of the excretion of calcium, phosphate, oxalate, citrate, and creatinine are looked at.
Prenatal screening is not typically done for FHM, however it may be performed if requested. As penetrance is high, individuals found to carry mutations should be expected to develop signs of FHM at some point in life.
Increasing fluid intake to yield a urine output of greater than 2 liters a day can be advantageous for all patients with nephrocalcinosis. Patients with hypercalciuria can reduce calcium excretion by restricting animal protein, limiting sodium intake to less than 100 meq a day and being lax of potassium intake. If changing ones diet alone does not result in an suitable reduction of hypercalciuria, a thiazide diuretic can be administered in patients who do not have hypercalcemia. Citrate can increase the solubility of calcium in urine and limit the development of nephrocalcinosis. Citrate is not given to patients who have urine pH equal to or greater than 7.
The goal of therapy is to treat the hypercalcaemia first and subsequently effort is directed to treat the underlying cause.
Familial hyperaldosteronism is a group of inherited conditions in which the adrenal glands, which are small glands located on top of each kidney, produce too much of the hormone aldosterone. Excess aldosterone causes the kidneys to retain more salt than normal, which in turn increases the body's fluid levels and causes high blood pressure. People with familial hyperaldosteronism may develop severe high blood pressure, often early in life. Without treatment, hypertension increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. There are other forms of hyperaldosteronism that are not inherited.
Familial hyperaldosteronism is categorized into three types, distinguished by their clinical features and genetic causes. In familial hyperaldosteronism type I, hypertension generally appears in childhood to early adulthood and can range from mild to severe. This type can be treated with steroid medications called glucocorticoids, so it is also known as glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA). In familial hyperaldosteronism type II, hypertension usually appears in early to middle adulthood and does not improve with glucocorticoid treatment. In most individuals with familial hyperaldosteronism type III, the adrenal glands are enlarged up to six times their normal size. These affected individuals have severe hypertension that starts in childhood. The hypertension is difficult to treat and often results in damage to organs such as the heart and kidneys. Rarely, individuals with type III have milder symptoms with treatable hypertension and no adrenal gland enlargement.
This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. The various types of familial hyperaldosteronism have different genetic causes.
It is unclear how common these diseases are. All together they appear to make up less than 1% of cases of hyperaldosteronism.
Adrenal crisis is triggered by physiological stress (such as trauma). Activities that have an elevated risk of trauma are best avoided. Treatment must be given within two hours of trauma and consequently it is advisable to carry injectable hydrocortisone in remote areas.
Treatment involves having the person stop taking any calcium supplements and any other alkali agents they have been taking, and hydration.
In severe cases, hospitalization may be required, in which case saline may be administered intravenously.
If kidney failure is advanced then treatment for that is required, namely chronic dialysis.
Blood levels of parathryoid hormone (PTH) are undetectable, but the mutation in the PTHR1 leads to auto-activation of the signaling as though the hormone PTH is present. Severe JMC produces a dwarfing phenotype, or short stature. Examination of the bone reveals normal epiphyseal plates but disorganized metaphyseal regions. Hypercalcemia (elevated levels of calcium in the blood) and hypophosphatemia (reduced blood levels of phosphate), and elevated urinary calcium and phosphate are generally found in JMC. The absence of hypercalcemia does not eliminate the disease from consideration.
Physical irregularities often associated with Jansen's include: prominent or protruding eyes, a high-arched palate, micrognathia or abnormal smallness of the jaws – particularly the lower (mandible) jaw, choanal stenosis, wide cranial sutures and irregular formation of the long bones which can resemble rickets. Nephrocalcinosis (accumulation of calcium in the interstitum of the kidney) is seen commonly as well.
In mild cases, full recovery is expected. In severe cases, permanent kidney failure or death may result.
Osteomyelitis (bone infection), which is much more common than infantile cortical hyperostosis, must be excluded, since it requires urgent treatment. Other diagnoses that can mimic this disorder and need to be excluded include physical trauma, child abuse, Vitamin A excess, hyperphosphatemia, prostaglandin E1 and E2 administration, scurvy, infections (including syphilis), Ewing sarcoma, and metastatic neuroblastoma.
Most infants with infantile cortical hyperostosis are diagnosed by physical examination. X-rays can confirm the presence of bone changes and soft tissue swelling. Biopsy of the affected areas can confirm the presence of typical histopathological changes. No specific blood tests exist, but tests such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and alkaline phosphatase levels are often elevated. A complete blood count may show anemia (low red blood cell count) and leukocytosis (high white blood cell count). Other tests may be done to help exclude other diagnoses. Ultrasound imaging can help diagnose prenatal cases.
Diagnosis of FHM is made according to the following criteria:
- Two attacks of each of the following:
- At least one close (first or second degree) relative with FHM
- No other likely cause
Sporadic forms follow the same diagnostic criteria, with the exception of family history.
In all cases, family and patient history is used for diagnosis. Brain imaging techniques, such as MRI, CAT scans and SPECT, are used to look for signs of other familial conditions such as CADASIL or mitochondrial disease, and for evidence of cerebellar degeneration. With the discovery of causative genes, genetic sequencing can also be used to verify diagnosis (though not all genetic loci are known).