Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Nephrology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Hypercalcemia is defined as an albumin-corrected calcium level greater than 2.6 mmol/l.
• Symptoms manifest primarily in neurological-psychiatric and cardiovascular systems.
• Severe, symptomatic hypercalcemia constitutes a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define hypercalcemia and its clinical manifestations.
• To outline the urgent management of severe hypercalcemia.
• To categorize hypercalcemia based on underlying pathophysiology for diagnostic guidance.

Main Methods:

• Review of pathophysiology and clinical presentation of hypercalcemia.
• Classification of hypercalcemia into four main etiological groups.
• Emphasis on diagnostic approaches including medical history and laboratory tests.

Main Results:

• Hypercalcemia is associated with significant neurological and cardiovascular morbidity.
• Effective management necessitates both immediate treatment and etiological diagnosis.
• The four pathophysiological groups include parathyroid hormone dysfunction, vitamin D metabolism disturbances, bone metabolism disorders, and impaired renal calcium excretion.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause is essential for effective hypercalcemia treatment.
• A systematic approach based on pathophysiology aids in identifying the etiology.
• Prompt recognition and management of hypercalcemia are critical for preventing severe complications.