Hypocalcemia

Older women with chronic kidney disease who take denosumab may have a higher risk for emergently treated hypocalcemia compared with those treated with bisphosphonates, according to published data.

Approximately 77,000 people in the U.S. have hypoparathyroidism due to absent or subphysiological levels of parathyroid hormone.

The FDA is investigating the risk of severe hypocalcemia in patients on dialysis treated with the osteoporosis drug Prolia, according to a drug safety communication.

In a survey of American Thyroid Association members, nearly half reported using preoperative vitamin D levels to assess risk for hypocalcemia following thyroidectomy.

Adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 for 5 years experienced sustained improvements in mineral homeostasis and modest increases in bone turnover markers, whereas serum calcium remained in the target range with reductions in oral calcium supplements, according to findings from a small, open-label extension study.