Hypercalcemia and parathyroid disorders

Primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy are responsible for the majority of reported cases of hypercalcemia. Suspected hypercalcemia should be documented on more than one occasion, preferably with the measurement of ionized calcium. Determination of intact parathyroid hormone with a modern two-site immunoassay is the single most important laboratory analysis in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia. Intact parathyroid hormone is increased or inappropriately high in primary hyperparathyroidism and suppressed or low normal in hypercalcemia of malignancy. Midregion and carboxylterminal radioimmunoassays are less effective in separating parathyroid and nonparathyroid hypercalcemia. In malignancy, hypercalcemia may result from local osteolysis or humoral factors. Although ectopic parathyroid hormone is produced rarely and certain lymphomas secrete 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone-related protein is elevated in the majority of patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. Recent developments in the measurement of parathyroid hormone-related protein should help to define the physiologic function of parathyroid hormone-related protein and its role in the differential diagnosis and therapy of hypercalcemia.