What blood test is done for hypercalcemia?

What is hypercalcemia? Hypercalcemia, or higher than normal level of calcium in your blood, is a fairly common finding. Blood tests, such as those drawn for an annual physical exam, today routinely check calcium levels. This allows physicians to detect abnormally high calcium levels early.

What is the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia?

Other than primary hyperparathyroidism, the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia in a patient with an elevated PTH is lithium use, MEN syndromes, secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism, or familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.

What cancers cause high calcium?

Types of cancer that cause hypercalcemia of malignancy include cancers of the lung, breast, esophagus, mouth, tongue, lip, kidney, ovary, uterus, and cervix. Blood-borne cancers such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma can also cause high calcium levels.

How do you test for hypercalcemia of malignancy?

There is no confirmatory test for hypercalcemia related to local actions of malignancies on bone. That diagnosis depends on combination of history, physical examination, imaging, and pathologic analysis of tumor.

How do you correct hypercalcemia?

Treatment

1. Calcitonin (Miacalcin). This hormone from salmon controls calcium levels in the blood.
2. Calcimimetics. This type of drug can help control overactive parathyroid glands.
3. Bisphosphonates.
4. Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva).
5. Prednisone.
6. IV fluids and diuretics.

What is borderline hypercalcemia?

The degree of hypercalcemia also may be useful diagnostically. Primary hyperparathyroidism is often associated with borderline or mild hypercalcemia (serum calcium concentration often below 11 mg/dL [2.75 mmol/L]).

Can low vitamin D levels cause hypercalcemia?

Thus, if you have a low vitamin D, and a calcium level above 10.1, then you are almost guaranteed to have primary hyperparathyroidism and need surgery to remove the parathyroid tumor. A low vitamin D cannot ever be the cause of high blood calcium.

How long can you live with hypercalcemia?

Unfortunately, cancer-related hypercalcemia has a poor prognosis, as it is most often associated with disseminated disease. Eighty percent of patients will die within a year, and there is a median survival of 3 to 4 months.

What drug treats hypercalcemia of malignancy?

Cinacalcet (Sensipar) has been approved for managing hypercalcemia. Bisphosphonates. Intravenous osteoporosis drugs, which can quickly lower calcium levels, are often used to treat hypercalcemia due to cancer.