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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing parathyroid glands Parathyroid glands

Hyperparathyroidism is an excess of parathyroid hormone in the bloodstream due to overactivity of one or more of the body's four parathyroid glands. These oval, grain-of-rice-sized glands are located in your neck. The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which helps maintain an appropriate balance of calcium in the bloodstream and in tissues that depend on calcium for proper functioning.

Two types of hyperparathyroidism exist. In primary hyperparathyroidism, an enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands causes overproduction of the hormone resulting in high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause a variety of health problems. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a result of another disease that causes low levels of calcium in the body. Surgery is the most common treatment for hyperparathyroidism.

Symptoms
References
  1. Hyperparathyroidism. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/hyper/hyper.htm. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  2. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  3. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Clinical manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  4. Potts JT. Diseases of the parathyroid gland and other hyper- and hypocalcemic disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2903222&searchStr=hyperparathyroidism#2903222. Accessed Feb. 28, 2011.
  5. El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Pathogenesis and etiology of primary hyperthyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  6. Fitzgerald PA. Hyperparathyroidism. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=14894&searchStr=hyperparathyroidism. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  7. Silverstein SJ. Management of primary hyperthyroidism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 1, 2011.
  8. Estrogen and progestin combination (Ovarian hormone therapy) (Oral route). Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  9. Bisphosphonates. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  10. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts. Accessed March 3, 2011.
  11. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-QuickFacts. Accessed March 3, 2011.
DS00396 May 13, 2011

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