Hypoparathyroidism - Causes

Causes

Hypoparathyroidism can have a number of causes:

• Removal of or trauma to the parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) or other neck surgeries is a recognized cause. It is now uncommon, as surgeons generally can spare them during procedures after identifying them. In a small percentage of cases, however, they can become traumatized during surgery and/or their blood supply can be compromised. When this happens the parathyroids may cease functioning for a while or stop altogether.
• Autoimmune invasion and destruction is the most common non-surgical cause. It can occur as part of autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes.
• Hemochromatosis can lead to iron accumulation and consequent dysfunction of a number of endocrine organs, including the parathyroids.
• Absence or dysfunction of the parathyroid glands is one of the components of chromosome 22q11 microdeletion syndrome (other names: DiGeorge syndrome, Schprintzen syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome).
• Magnesium deficiency
• DiGeorge syndrome, a disease in which hypoparathyroidism can occur due to a total absence of the parathyroid glands at birth. Familial hypoparathyroidism occurs with other endocrine diseases, such as adrenal insufficiency, in a syndrome called autoimmune polyglandular failure syndrome type 1 (APS-I).
• A defect in the calcium receptor leads to a rare congenital form of the disease
• Idiopathic (of unknown cause), occasionally familial