Lower than normal level of calcium in the blood. Due to (a) Vitamin D deficiency, (b) underactivity of parathyroid glands. Muscular spasms may follow from tetany or seizure. Babies fed on cow’s milk may be at risk.
Symptoms: breathlessness, vomiting, spasm, convulsions. The calcium balance is governed by hormones from the parathyroid gland. Absorption of the mineral depends upon dietary calcium and Vitamin D. (See: CALCIUM, VITAMIN D)
Abnormality may be shown by decrease of serum calcium levels in the blood, or by increase in size and density of bones and other tissues.
Causes: tumour, hardened arteries, bone-wasting diseases, chronic kidney disease.
Alternatives. Horsetail tea. Comfrey root powder: 2-4g, 1 to 3 times daily. Comfrey: potential benefit outweighs possible risk.
Diet. Cod Liver oil. Fish oils generally. Fresh Carrot juice.
Supplementation. Vitamins A, C, D (up to 20,000 units daily). Calcium, Magnesium, Beta Carotene, Dolomite, Phosphorus.
See: CALCIUM DISORDERS. RICKETS: OSTEOPOROSIS: OSTEOMALACIA.
An abnormally low level of calcium in the blood.
The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency.
Rarer causes include chronic kidney failure and hypoparathyroidism.
In mild cases, hypocalcaemia is symptomless; in severe cases, it leads to tetany.
It may also result in bone softening, causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
A SERUM concentration of calcium below the normal range (between 2.33 and 3.05 mmol of calcium per 100 ml of serum). This may cause TETANY, acutely; chronically it may give rise to RICKETS, OSTEOMALACIA or osteoporosis (see BONE, DISORDERS OF). It may be caused by hypoparathyroidism (see THYROID GLAND, DISEASES OF), vitamin D de?ciency (see APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS), malabsorption, renal failure or acute pancreatitis (see PANCREAS, DISORDERS OF).
n. the presence in the blood of an abnormally low concentration of calcium. See tetany. Compare hypercalcaemia.
Underactivity of the parathyroid glands (see under ENDOCRINE GLANDS). Thus there is a lack of parathyroid hormone resulting in HYPOCALCAEMIA. It may be caused by inadvertent removal of the glands when the thyroid gland is surgically removed, or by failure of the glands because of autoimmune disease.... hypoparathyroidism
Increased activity of the PARATHYROID gland. Parathyroid hormone increases SERUM calcium. Hyperparathyroidism may be primary (due to an ADENOMA or HYPERPLASIA of the gland), secondary (in response to HYPOCALCAEMIA) or tertiary (when secondary hyperparathyroidism causes the development of an autonomous adenoma).... hyperparathyroidism
A disease occurring most commonly in patients in or from the tropics, and characterised by diarrhoea with large, fatty stools; ANAEMIA; sore tongue; and weight loss. Its manifestations resemble those of non-tropical sprue, or gluten enteropathy, and COELIAC DISEASE.
Causes Tropical sprue is thought to be due to an inborn error of metabolism, characterised primarily by an inability to absorb fats from the intestines. Its epidemiological pattern suggests that an infection such as DYSENTERY may be the precipitating factor. Subsequently there is interference with the absorption of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, leading to anaemia and HYPOCALCAEMIA.
Symptoms Of gradual or rapid onset, there is initial weakness, soreness of the tongue, dif?culty swallowing, indigestion, diarrhoea and poor appetite. Anaemia is typically macrocytic, and mild HYPOGLYCAEMIA may occur. Untreated, the patient steadily loses weight and, unless appropriate treatment is started early, death may be expected because of exhaustion and some intercurrent infection.
Treatment This consists of bed rest, a high-protein diet (initially skimmed milk), and treatment of the anaemia and any other de?ciencies present. Minimum fat should be given to sufferers, who should also take folic acid and cyanocobalamin for the anaemia; large vitamin-B-complex supplements (such as Marmite®) are helpful. Vitamins A and D, together with calcium supplements, help to raise the concentration of calcium in the blood. A long convalescence is often required, which may lead to marked depression, and patients should be sent home to a temperate climate.
Non-tropical sprue is the result of GLUTEN hypersensitivty and is treated with a gluten-free diet.... sprue
Spasms and twitching of the muscles, most commonly in the hands and feet, although the muscles of the face, larynx, or spine may also be affected. The spasms are caused by a biochemical disturbance and are painless at first; if the condition persists, the spasms tend to become increasingly painful. Muscle damage may result if the underlying cause is not treated. The most common underlying cause is hypocalcaemia. Other causes include hypokalaemia, hyperventilation during a panic attack, or, more rarely, hypoparathyroidism.... tetany
a hereditary condition resulting in an inability to fight infections (immunodeficiency) associated with absence of the parathyroid gland and the thymus, abnormalities of the heart, and low calcium levels. Affected children are prone to *Candida infections and often present with *failure to thrive. The condition has also been named CATCH-22: Cardiac abnormalities, Abnormal facies, T-cell deficiency (from absent thymus), Cleft palate, Hypocalcaemia, chromosome 22 (in which the defect lies). [A. M. di George (1921–2009), US paediatrician]... di george syndrome
n. the presence in the blood of an abnormally high concentration of calcium. There are many causes, including excessive ingestion of vitamin D, overactivity of the *parathyroid glands, and malignant disease. Malignant hypercalcaemia results from the secretion by the tumour of substances (most commonly *parathyroid hormone-related protein) that stimulate bone resorption or from bone metastases causing localized destruction and release of calcium into the bloodstream. Hypercalcaemia may also occur as an inherited congenital condition, for example familial benign (or hypocalciuric) hypercalcaemia or *Williams syndrome. Compare hypocalcaemia.... hypercalcaemia
n. any generalized bone disease resulting from a metabolic disorder. In renal osteodystrophy chronic kidney failure leads to diffuse bone changes resulting from a number of factors, including osteomalacia, secondary *hyperparathyroidism stimulated by hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia, acidosis from the renal failure, and metastatic calcification related to high levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood. See also Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy.... osteodystrophy
spasmodic contractions of muscles, especially the muscles of mastication, in response to nerve stimulation (e.g. by tapping). It is a characteristic sign of hypocalcaemia (see tetany). [A. Trousseau (1801–67), French physician]... trousseau’s sign