Hypercalcemia

Disease ProcessHypercalcemia is a medical condition in which levels of calcium in the blood are elevated, typically greater than 10.4 mg/dL. The causes of high calcium levels include primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, excessive vitamin D intake, and some medications (Asonitis et al., 2019). The disruption of normal physiological processes by excess calcium generates symptoms such as fatigue, kidney stones, bone pain, weakness, and confusion. Cardiac arrhythmias, kidney damage, and even coma may result from severe hypercalcemia (Asonitis et al., 2019). Treatment consists of addressing the underlying cause, during which the patient is hydrated along with diuretics and bisphosphonates, and in some cases, surgery to remove parathyroid glands. PathophysiologyTypically, there should be less than 10.4 mg/dL of calcium in the blood, but in hypercalcemia, there is an excess of calcium in the blood. The pathophysiology of hypercalcemia involves disrupted calcium homeostasis, primarily regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D (Tonon et al., 2022). Various mechanisms can lead to hypercalcemia, including: Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Parathyroid glands overproduce PTH, leading to increased bone resorption and calcium release into the blood.Malignancy: Some cancers make substances that act like PTH or release calcium directly into the bloodstream.Excessive Vitamin D: Consuming high doses of vitamin D can increase intestinal calcium absorption.Disease ProcessHypercalcemia is a medical condition in which levels of calcium in the blood are elevated, typically greater than 10.4 mg/dL. The causes of high calcium levels include primary hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, excessive vitamin D intake, and some medications (Asonitis et al., 2019). The disruption of normal physiological processes by excess calcium generates symptoms such as fatigue, kidney stones, bone pain, weakness, and confusion. Cardiac arrhythmias, kidney damage, and even coma may result from severe hypercalcemia (Asonitis et al., 2019). Treatment consists of addressing the underlying cause, during which the patient is hydrated along with diuretics and bisphosphonates, and in some cases, surgery to remove parathyroid glands. PathophysiologyTypically, there should be less than 10.4 mg/dL of calcium in the blood, but in hypercalcemia, there is an excess of calcium in the blood. The pathophysiology of hypercalcemia involves disrupted calcium homeostasis, primarily regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D (Tonon et al., 2022). Various mechanisms can lead to hypercalcemia, including: Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Parathyroid glands overproduce PTH, leading to increased bone resorption and calcium release into the blood.Malignancy: Some cancers make substances that act like PTH or release calcium directly into the bloodstream.Excessive Vitamin D: Consuming high doses of vitamin D can increase intestinal calcium absorption. Risk factors and briefly state...