Parathyroid Diseases

Although uncommon in pregnancy, parathyroid dysfunction may produce significant perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of hyperparathyroidism is 0.5%. The most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy is a single parathyroid adenoma, which is present in nearly 80% of cases. Surgery is the only definitive treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, with a cure rate that is excellent. The most common etiology of hypoparathyroidism is damage to the parathyroid glands after surgery, with an incidence of 0.2%. Treatment of hypoparathyroidism is usually a high-calcium diet with vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D deficiency is common, associated with perinatal morbidity and easily corrected.