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Hypercalcemia

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Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics

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Abstract

Calcium, mostly stored in bone, is an essential nutrient involved in bone mineralization, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and membrane voltage potential. Thus, abnormalities in calcium homeostasis can have multisystemic effects. Most hypercalcemia in the pediatric population is mild and identified incidentally with laboratory testing for other indications. Etiologies vary by age and can be classified as either parathyroid hormone (PTH)-independent or PTH-dependent, and genetic or acquired. Once the diagnosis of hypercalcemia is confirmed, the patient should be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for further evaluation and management. Severe or symptomatic hypercalcemia requires hospitalization with treatment to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and address the underlying etiology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Anna Chin & Lisa Swartz Topor

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  1. Anna Chin
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  2. Lisa Swartz Topor
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Correspondence to Lisa Swartz Topor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Takara Stanley

  2. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Madhusmita Misra

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Chin, A., Topor, L.S. (2021). Hypercalcemia. In: Stanley, T., Misra, M. (eds) Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_6

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