I decided to write an article about the parathyroid disease and the parathyroid disease symptoms. Unfortunately, I have found very little information and most of it was too hard to understand. So I tried to write in this article only that kind of information that anyone can understand and I left the medical terms behind.

The parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands located in the middle part of the neck at exactly the thyroid. To be more specific are located behind the thyroid lobe, and usually 4 (2 above and 2 below) for a total weight of 120 milligrams.

Indeed, their number and their locations are highly variable in different individuals. In most cases, in fact, doctors find aberrant parathyroid located in an atypical site, often in the chest, more rarely within the thyroid or even frankly ectopic locations. This is because the endocrine glands are composed of cells (called parathyroid cells) that produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH). This is important in regulating the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus and bones.

In general, this hormone increases calcium levels in the blood and decrease levels of phosphate; the activity of vitamin D promotes and regulates calcium deposition in bones. When the parathyroid functions are in excess (hyperparathyroidism) can result in higher levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) and there is a clinical picture characterized by the appearance of applicant kidney stones, fatigue and mental confusion. These parathyroid disease symptoms often occurs quite gradually, but sometimes can appear in a much more sudden and dangerous enough to require immediate treatment (parathyroid crisis).

In chronic cases of severe hyperparathyroidism can also have a demineralization and thus a weakening of the bones, resulting in the rare context of fibrous-cystic osteopathy.

However, if the defect in parathyroid function (hypoparathyroidism) levels tends to decrease blood calcium (hypocalcaemia) and the most common parathyroid disease symptoms are the appearance of muscle spasms, tingling and particularly increased tendon reflexes. These parathyroid disease symptoms, for example, can be found in patients who have undergone surgery on the thyroid and in which, by mistake, were also removed parathyroid glands.

How can the parathyroid disease be cured?

The treatment for parathyroid disease requires the administration of calcitriol, an active metabolite of vitamin D or alfacalcidol. Unfortunately, a parathyroid hormone therapy is not available.

Calcitriol is commercially available as capsules and is injected intravenously. It is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. The dosage can vary from 0.5 to 1.5 mg per day. The alfacalcidol is available in capsules and drops. It is absorbed from the gut and activated by the liver. The daily dosage is 0.5-1.5 mg.

The main risk of treatment with vitamin D and its derivatives is represented by hypercalcemia. Calcitriol and alfacalcidiol determine an elevation of serum calcium levels reversible in a few days after stopping the administration of the drug. Hypercalcemia caused by other derivatives may persist for weeks or months after discontinuation.