Is a very high PTH related to kidney failure?

[HopeKidney]

Hi, is a very high PTH related to kidney failure (egfr 8)? Is there a way to treat it?

[rabbit01]

Yes it is very much related. Healthy kidneys report the levels of calcium in your blood to the parathyroid glands in your neck. When your kidney function is low then the message doesn't get sent but the parathyroid assumes that you have a shortage of calcium and it sends out a hormone to extract calcium from the bones to bring up the levels in the blood. This then leads to weak bones and elevation of calcium in our blood. Normally doctors prescribed a medication called alfacalcidol which reduces the PTH. In extreme cases one or more of the 4 parathyroid glands can be removed in an operation.

[New2]

This is happening to me now. My calcium is 10.7/10.3. I was not aware of any kidney problems until I ended up calling an ambulance. 9mlm. stone was blocking kidney function. Stone ablation, move on. I had suspected a link to Hyperparathyroidism.1 yr later I am having surgery to remove

the lower left gland. Usually a benign enlargement. It has been quite a long wait and can cause stones, fatigue , muscle and bone pain, mental fogginess, osteopenia/porosis. The extracted gland is sent to pathology while you are still under. The doctor can watch your calcium level drop. If it doesn't, they examine the other three. I have AKI because of the giant stone I had.

New2

PS I have a collection of small stones I pass on a regular basis. Be your own advocate!!!

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[JandD4ever in reply to New2]

Have you read any at parathyroid .com? I went to Tampa for surgery because they check all 4 glands during surgery. The nephrologist had prescribed vitamin d which I did not take because it makes you absorb calcium. They told me if I had taken the vitamin d before surgery I could have had a stroke or heart attack with all the extra calcium circulating in my body because of the parathyroid tumors. I had primary hyperparathyroidism which means I had one or more tumors. People with no tumors but high PTH and low calcium have secondary hyperparathyroidism because of kidney failure or some other disease. It's all very interesting.

[New2 in reply to JandD4ever]

I was considering the Fla Clinic but could not swing it. I have been advised all along Not to take vitamin D because of the calcium issue. My surgeon told me to stop taking all supplements 7 days prior and Nephrologist told me about D from the start. I am definitely going to check out the website. Thanks. Also my surgery has to be rescheduled . My pre op tests revealed a positive COVID outcome. I think I will request he look at all 4. My lower left gland is enlarged. My PTH was 105 and Calcium a consistent 10.5/7 for the last year. Thank you for responding. Were there any after effects?

[JandD4ever in reply to New2]

After effects from having two tumors removed were excellent...energy through the roof and felt great. I had felt so bad for so long that I felt like a new person. My calcium fluctuated between 10 and 11 for at least 7 years, which I didn't know until I rounded up the lab reports from 7 years back. I had seen 8 doctors in those last 4 years and not one of them mentioned high calcium or kidney disease. My GFR had gotten down to 20. Now I know to get a copy of my lab work or either go on-line to look at the numbers since doctors are not perfect.

[New2 in reply to JandD4ever]

Amen. I highly encourage people to educate themselves and look at the test results. I also did not know anything about a kidney issue and have had a high calcium for a loooong time. I I had not done my own research and bringing it up to the Nephrologist I would be in limbo until my kidneys were damaged beyond repair! Did your GFR improve? What is your cal & PTH now?

[JandD4ever in reply to New2]

I started bottled water and ate healthy for the most part and my GFR went up to 45. Then last year my doctor's PA switched my BP medication to Losartan and it went down to 20 again. It started going up when I got off the Losartan, so from this June until now it has come up to 35. They have not tested my PTH since my calcium is good (9.7). Creatinine was up to 2.3 but now is 1.67.

I take a few supplements that I have not discussed with my doctor. Zinc 15 mg every other day, Astaxanthin 4mg, Vitamin K2 with MK7, Ubiquinol 100mg, and a low dose of Magnesium, I also take vitamin D3. I researched and decided I would try them and I feel fine. I also take Great Lakes Collagen and it has helped with aches and pains I suppose that comes with aging. The only prescriptions I have is for BP.