Overview

• Disorder caused by deficiency of PTH synthesis and secretion, leading to low serum calcium and elevated serum phosphate

• Aeitology → postoperative (thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy), autoimmune, nonautoimmune (wilson disease, haemochromatosis), congenital (DiGeorge syndrome)

  Pseudohypoparathyroidism ⇒ rare genetic condition resulting in failure of target organs to respond to normal levels of parathyroid hormone. Causes short stature and fingers, symptoms of hypocalcaemia and vitamin D deficiency.

• Mainly presents with symptoms of hypocalcaemia

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

Hypocalcaemia = increased neuromuscular excitability

• Tetany → muscle twitching, cramping and spasm
• Paraesthesia, Numbness, Tingling
• Poor Memory, Slowed Thinking
• Malnutrition, Malabsorption, Diarrhoea
• Arrhythmias → prolonged QT interval
• Chvostek’s Sign (ch = cheek) → contraction of facial muscles when facial nerve is tapped in front of the ear
• Trousseau Sign (t = tighten cuff) → painful clasping response of fingers and hands when blood pressure cuff is inflated above systolic blood pressure

<aside> 💡 Hypocalcaemia = CATs go Numb → Convulsions, Arrhythmias, Tetany, Paraesthesia

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Investigations: