<b><br>Introduction:</b> Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is mainly caused by parathyroid adenoma (PA). Rare variants of PA, weighing >2.0-3.5 g are called \"large\" or \"giant\" adenomas and account for about 1.5% of all PA.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to compare normal-sized and large parathyroid lesions identifying risk factors for severe hypercalcemia.</br> <b><br>Materials and methods:</b> 27 patients with PHPT and parathyroid lesion ≥2.0 cm3 (study group) were compared with 73 patients with PHPT and lesion < 2.0 cm³ (control group). In both groups, the majority were women (81.5% - study group, 90.5% - control group, gender ratios 4.4:9.1, respectively). The patients were examined preoperatively and postoperatively: PTH, creatine, calcium, and phosphate serum and urine concentrations, and calcidiol serum levels were assessed. Preoperative ultrasonography (US) was performed.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> Patients with larger parathyroid lesions had signifficantly higher PTH and calcium serum concentrations and lower serum phosphate and calcidiol concentrations. There were no statistically significant differences in the concentration of creatine in serum and urine, calciuria, or tubular reabsorption of phosphorus (TRP). US relatively underestimated the parathyroid volume by about 0.3-0.4 mL (10% in larger lesions and 43% in smaller ones).</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> Due to higher PTH and calcium levels, larger parathyroid adenomas may constitute a higher risk of severe hypercalcemia. In general, US underestimated the parathyroid volume.</br>.

UNASSIGNED: Hypercalcemia-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare entity primarily associated with iatrogenic vitamin D/calcium overdose, malignancy, or, infrequently, primary hyperparathyroidism.
UNASSIGNED: We present a novel case of an adult male from rural India who experienced recurrent acute pancreatitis caused by hypercalcemia with concurrent manifestation of PRES. Diagnostic evaluation revealed markedly elevated serum calcium levels and parathyroid hormone concentrations, consistent with primary hyperparathyroidism. Imaging studies identified a parathyroid adenoma near the right thyroid lobe, subsequently surgically excised.
UNASSIGNED: This case underscores the importance of considering primary hyperparathyroidism as an underlying cause of PRES, especially in the absence of acute arterial hypertension or autonomic dysfunction. Early recognition and intervention are essential in mitigating the morbidity and mortality of PRES.

(1) Background: Parathyroid cystic adenomas (PCA) are rare entities representing only 0.5-1% of parathyroid adenomas, accounting for 1-2% of cases of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The purpose of this study was to compare classical and functional/secreting cystic parathyroid lesions and identify risk factors for severe hypercalcemia; (2) Methods: A total of 17 patients with PHPT and parathyroid cysts (study group) were compared with the group of 100 patients with hyperparathyroidism caused by adenoma or hyperplasia (control group). In both groups the majority were women (88% vs. 12%, with gender ratio 7, 3:1). The patients were examined preoperatively and postoperatively: PTH, creatine, calcium and phosphate serum and urine concentrations and calcidiol serum levels were assessed; (3) Results: Patients with parathyroid cyst had statistically higher PTH and calcium serum concentration, higher calciuria and lower serum phosphate concentration. There were no statistically significant differences in the concentration of creatine in serum and urine and tubular reabsorption of phosphorus (TRP); (4) Conclusions: Due to higher PTH and calcium levels, cystic parathyroid adenomas could be one of the rare risk factors for severe hypercalcemia and hypercalcemic crisis which can be life threatening.

BACKGROUND: In most cases of parathyroid adenoma (PA), it is not palpable and physical examination shows no remarkable findings. Hence diagnosis requires an index of suspicion. The current paper describes four cases of severe hypercalcemia secondary to PA.
METHODS: Case 1 - 29 years old Sudanese female with history of nausea/vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite and bone aches. She had large palpable left lower neck swelling, and high calcium and PTH. Ultrasound (US) neck and SPECT/CT scan after sestamibi injection showed left inferior PA. Case 2-73 years old Sudanese male referred with history of abdominal pain and flatulence. He had severely high calcium, elevated parathormone (PTH), and high 24-hour urine calcium. US and SPECT/CT showed a left inferior PA. Case 3-54 years old Bangladeshi male, referred with history of renal colic/urolithiasis. Laboratory results showed severely high calcium and PTH levels. US and SPECT/CT scan showed right inferior PA. Case 4-35 years old Tunisian female, 12 weeks pregnant, referred with recurrent nausea and vomiting of increasing frequency from the second week of pregnancy. Laboratory tests revealed severe hypercalcemia and high PTH. US showed two parathyroid lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: The patients were admitted as emergency cases and investigations diagnosed severe hypercalcemia secondary to PA. All patients underwent neck exploration and PA excision. Histology confirmed PA. The four cases were swiftly assessed and treated before progressing into the more serious hypercalcemic crisis which can lead to grave consequences, particularly in the case of the pregnant female. All patients recovered with no complications and were clinically well with normal calcium level on follow up.
CONCLUSIONS: Severe hypercalcemia must be swiftly and thoroughly assessed to prevent the more serious hypercalcemic crisis. Clinicians need to be suspicious of parathyroid adenoma as a probable cause. Severe hypercalcemia is often accompanied with vomiting, and in pregnant females, this could be mistaken for hyperemesis gravidarum. Excision of the parathyroid adenoma treats the condition and follow up of serum calcium and PTH confirms the favorable outcome of surgery.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has had dramatic consequences on the progression of numerous pathologies, especially neoplastic ones. The orientation of hospital activities toward the care of patients with SARS-Cov2 infection has caused significant delays in the diagnosis and therapy of many other pathologies. What about severe hypercalcemia? The aim of this work was to determine the clinical and biological presentation, etiologies, mortality, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on severe hypercalcemia.
METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study for 84 months (September 2014 to September 2021) at the Nephrology Unit in University Hospital Mohammed VI, Oujda, Morocco. Included were all adult patients diagnosed with severe hypercalcemia (defined as corrected total serum calcium of >3.5 mmol/l or > 14.0 mg/dl) and who had benefited from one or more hemodialysis sessions.
RESULTS: 66 episodes of severe hypercalcemia occurred in 64 patients. The mean age was 57 ± 15 years and 57.6% were female. The mean corrected serum calcium at admission was 16.9 ± 2.1 mg/dl and 33.3% had more than 18.0 mg/dl. Malignancies represented 80.4% of all etiologies. Acute kidney injury was observed in 69.7%. The delta drop in serum calcium 48 h after initiation of medical treatment was 4.64 ± 1.63 mg /dl. Mortality was noted in 14% of all cases. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 58.3%, 87.5% and 85.7%, respectively, in group 1 (14.0-16.0 mg/dl), group 2 (16.1-18.0 mg/dl), and group 3 (> 18.0 mg/dl) (p = 0.04). The mean serum potassium value was 5.1 ± 1.3, 4.0 ± 1.0, and 3.7 ± 0.7 respectively, in group 1 (14.0-16.0 mg/dl), group 2 (16.1-18.0 mg/dl), and group 3 (> 18.0 mg/dl) (p < 0.001). Newly diagnosed neoplasia, severe hypercalcemia (> 16.0 mg/dl), and mortality have been observed in 15.4% vs. 23.7% (p = 0.31), 25% vs. 50% (p = 0.03), and 35.7% vs. 52.6% (p = 0.13) respectively, in patients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSIONS: The Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in both the incidence and severity of hypercalcemia and the hemodialysis practiced in this context remains efficient and safe.

In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and severe hypercalcemia, parathyroidectomy remains the only curative therapy. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, when many hospital visits are suspended and surgeries cannot be performed, the management of these patients represents a challenging clinical situation. This article presents a literature review and discussion of the pharmacologic management of PHPT and severe hypercalcemia, which can be used as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic until parathyroidectomy can be performed safely.
This narrative review was conducted by searching literature on the PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar databases using the terms primary hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia, cinacalcet, bisphosphonates, denosumab, vitamin D, raloxifene, hormone replacement therapy, coronavirus, and COVID-19.
Appropriate monitoring and remote medical follow-up of these patients are essential until the resolution of the pandemic. Cinacalcet is the drug of choice for controlling hypercalcemia, whereas bisphosphonate or denosumab is the drug for improving bone mineral density. Combined therapy with cinacalcet and bisphosphonates or cinacalcet and denosumab should be considered when the effects on serum calcium and bone mineral density are simultaneously desired.
Medical management of PHPT and severe hypercalcemia presents a reasonable alternative for parathyroid surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak and should be instituted until the pandemic ends and surgery can be performed safely.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) versus those of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulation for CVVH in severe hypercalcemia patients.
METHODS: Between January 2014 and May 2019, 33 severe hypercalcemia patients underwent CVVH. Patients were divided into the RCA and LMWH groups. Calcium-free replacement solution was used. Serum total calcium reduction rate (RRSeCa), filter lifespan, bleeding, totCa/ionCa ratio, citrate accumulation, and catheter occlusion were evaluated as outcomes.
RESULTS: RCA and LMWH were employed for CVVH in 14 and 43 filters, respectively. RRSeCa was not significantly different between the LMWH and RCA groups (p = .320), but RCA-CVVH was more effective in reducing ionized calcium at half of the time points (p < .05). RCA significantly prolonged the median filter lifespan (>72 h vs. 24.0 h [IQR, 15.0-26.0], p = .012). The incidence of filter failure was 55.8% (24/43) in the LMWH group and 21.4% (3/14) in the RCA group (p = .033). The adjusted results demonstrated that RCA could significantly reduce the risk of filter failure (p = .043, 95% CI 0.059-0.957, HR = 0.238). No citrate accumulation or bleeding episodes were observed in the RCA-CVVH group. Seven bleeding episodes (7/43, 16.3%) occurred in the LMWH-CVVH group.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe hypercalcemia who underwent CVVH, RCA more effectively decreased calcium levels and had a superior filter lifespan and no obvious adverse events compared with LMWH. Further prospective, randomized, controlled studies are warranted to obtain robust evidence.

Severe hypercalcemia is often caused by primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP), which is not commonly seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this case report an adolescent girl with a history of SLE develops mild hypercalcemia secondary to unrecognized PHP that leads to a hypercalcemic crisis with a prolonged recovery. Therefore, early diagnostic evaluation of persistent hypercalcemia in patients with SLE is important for detection and appropriate treatment of PHP to avoid a hypercalcemic crisis and associated prolonged morbidity.