Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction01:25

Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction

Hyperthyroidism is a type of thyrotoxicosis characterized by the thyroid gland's overproduction of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). This hormone excess increases the basal metabolic rate and enhances sensitivity to catecholamines.DiagnosisDiagnosis is based on clinical features and biochemical testing. It typically shows suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels below 0.4 mIU/L, with elevated free T3 and/or T4. Additional tests, including thyroid...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis01:21

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.
Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:27

Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state caused by elevated levels of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It results from dysregulation at the thyroid, pituitary, or immune system level and affects multiple organ systems.PathophysiologyThe most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies, specifically thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb), a subtype of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), bind to and activate TSH receptors...
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology01:24

Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) that activate TSH receptors, leading to excessive synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and resulting in hyperthyroidism.Among all causes of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease is the most common and can happen at any age, though it is more frequent in women. It produces a hypermetabolic state with features such as weight loss, tachycardia, tremor, and heat...
The Parathyroid Glands00:59

The Parathyroid Glands

The two pairs of parathyroid glands embedded within the posterior surface of the thyroid gland are restricted by a dense capsule around them. These glands comprise two distinct cell populations—parathyroid oxyphil and parathyroid principal cells- pivotal in calcium homeostasis.
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by producing...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels in platyrrhini and catarrhini: A comparative analysis with three different assays.

American journal of primatology·2020
Same author

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency; a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in ambulatory indigent patients.

Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists·2013
Same author

Vitamin D deficiency in urban indigent patients in Southern California.

Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists·2013
Same author

Commentary on: hypocalcemia following treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Clinical chemistry·2011
Same author

Commentary.

Clinical chemistry·2010
Same author

Comparison of fresh frozen serum to traditional proficiency testing material in a College of American Pathologists survey for ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12.

Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine·2005
Same journal

Evaluation of hemoglobin interference thresholds for chemical urinalysis panels.

Clinical biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Integrated genomic and biochemical diagnosis of a novel homozygous start-loss variant in AKR1D1 associated with neonatal cholestasis.

Clinical biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Agreement between POC glucose meters and blood gas analyzers varies across ICU patient populations.

Clinical biochemistry·2026
Same journal

From variability to value: Advancing vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring toward decision-grade practice through commutability-informed external quality assessment and uncertainty-aware reporting.

Clinical biochemistry·2026
Same journal

Response to the letter to the editor: From variability to value: Advancing vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring toward decision-grade practice through commutability-informed external quality assessment and uncertainty-aware reporting.

Clinical biochemistry·2026
Same journal

What are the correlates of laboratory productivity in clinical laboratories in the Asia Pacific region?

Clinical biochemistry·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Detection and Quantification of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in Human Plasma Using a Modified Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
07:14

Detection and Quantification of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in Human Plasma Using a Modified Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: June 16, 2023

Investigation of hypercalcemia.

David B Endres1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. endres@usc.edu

Clinical Biochemistry
|May 10, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Diagnosing hypercalcemia requires accurate laboratory tests. Improving ionized calcium measurements and parathyroid hormone (PTH) reference intervals can enhance diagnostic accuracy for this common clinical finding.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Detection and Quantification of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in Human Plasma Using a Modified Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
07:14

Detection and Quantification of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in Human Plasma Using a Modified Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: June 16, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Laboratory Medicine

Background:

  • Hypercalcemia is a common clinical finding with several potential causes.
  • Primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, and chronic renal failure are the most frequent etiologies.
  • Less common causes involve vitamin D, endocrine disorders, medications, and immobilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical role of clinical laboratories in diagnosing hypercalcemia.
  • To identify areas for improvement in the laboratory diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia.
  • To propose specific enhancements for more accurate hypercalcemia assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common and uncommon causes of hypercalcemia.
  • Evaluation of current laboratory tests for hypercalcemia, including total calcium, phosphate, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D metabolites.
  • Analysis of limitations in existing diagnostic methods.

Main Results:

  • Routine chemistry tests are foundational, but advanced assays like ionized calcium, PTH, and vitamin D metabolites are crucial.
  • Total and corrected calcium measurements can be inaccurate, necessitating greater use of ionized calcium.
  • Parathyroid hormone (PTH) assays require more accurate reference intervals, excluding vitamin D status.
  • Harmonization of intact PTH immunoassays is needed.

Conclusions:

  • The clinical laboratory is central to hypercalcemia diagnosis.
  • Improving the accuracy of ionized calcium measurements is essential.
  • Establishing refined reference intervals for PTH, considering vitamin D status, will improve diagnostic precision.
  • Standardizing PTH immunoassays is necessary for better patient care.