Syndrome giperkaltsiemi and is a biochemical disorder, in which an increase in the calcium concentration is observed in the blood plasma. It is often found during routine biochemical analysis.
Causes of hypercalcemia
Hypercalcemia occurs against a background of various diseases or pathological processes in the body. Very often such a disorder appears as a result of lesions of the parathyroid glands. The causes of hypercalcemia are:
- pseudo-hyperparathyroidism;
- bone metastases;
- lymphoma;
- leukemia;
- myeloma;
- lymphogranulomatosis .
In the blood plasma, the concentration of calcium increases with renal failure and endocrine diseases (acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis and chronic adrenal insufficiency). Hypercalcemia occurs in malignant neoplasms, during the use of certain medications and after fractures of bones.
Symptoms of hypercalcemia
Most often with hypercalcemia, there are no symptoms. But in some cases, there are clinical manifestations. These include:
- pain in the intestinal region;
- constipation;
- nausea and vomiting;
- increased blood pressure;
- lack of appetite and, as a consequence, anorexia;
- an obstruction of an intestine .
An increase in serum calcium in excess of 12 mg% may be accompanied by emotional lability, psychosis, confusion, delirium and copulation. The patient has strong emotional disorders, delirium, weakness and hallucinations.
A constant thirst and dehydration can also be signs of hypercalcemia. This is due to the fact that an excessive amount of calcium in the blood causes the kidneys of the patient to work more intensively. As a result, they produce an excessive amount of urine, and the body at an accelerated rate loses fluid.
With severe hypercalcemia, the heart rhythm is disturbed, for example, the QT interval on the ECG decreases. The serum calcium level exceeds 18 mg%? This can lead to kidney failure, serious impairment of brain function and even coma. In very severe cases, even a lethal outcome is possible.
In chronic hypercalcaemia, the patient may have stones or calcium-containing crystals in the kidneys that cause irreversible organ damage.
Diagnosis of hypercalcemia
The diagnosis of hypercalcemia can be established on the basis of the fact of detecting a high level of calcium in the blood serum no less than 3 times. After this, the patient should undergo additional studies that will help establish the causes of the development of the disease:
- excretion of calcium in urine per day;
- analysis for inorganic phosphate;
- an assay for serum activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase.
In some cases, with idiopathic hypercalcemia, radiographs of bones, intravenous pyelography and computed tomographic scans of the chest and kidney organs should be done.
Treatment of hypercalcemia
Treatment of hypercalcemia is carried out with the help of drugs that prevent the release of calcium bones. Also, the patient is prescribed diuretics and drugs that suppress the activity of osteoclasts. If the patient is taking vitamin D, stop drinking immediately. In severe cases with hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia, an operation should be performed to remove one parathyroid gland or kidney transplantation.
After the completion of treatment, it is necessary to control the intake of foods rich in calcium, and try not to take drugs that contain large amounts of calcium and vitamin D.