Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Slower processing speed, or longer times to take in and use information, appear to be connected to lower blood calcium and higher blood phosphate levels in people with hypoparathyroidism, a small pilot study in the U.S. suggests. Because slower processing speeds can mean more time to complete day-to-day tasks,…

A woman in China developed rare changes in her heartbeat, which were associated with low blood calcium caused by hypoparathyroidism, according to a case report. Using an electrocardiogram (ECG) — a line graph that shows how the electrical activity of the heart changes over time — scientists were able…

Hypoparathyroidism caused a buildup of pressure around a young girl’s brain, according to a report from Italy focused on a difficult diagnosis. “Our case report is of particular interest, since the child did not present with typical neurological hypoparathyroidism symptoms,” the researchers wrote. “Therefore, we recommend that hypoparathyroidism should…

Replacement therapy with parathyroid hormone (PTH) — the hormone found at low levels in patients with hypoparathyroidism — requires the presence of another hormone called fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) to help the kidneys expel excess phosphate, a small study has found. The study, “PTH and FGF23 exert…

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) diagnostic criteria for postoperative hypoparathyroidism are useful to doctors in grouping patients based on symptoms, which could help in managing the disease, a study reported. “However,” the researchers wrote, differentiating patients in this way “may underestimate the actual incidence,” or the number of…

Low levels of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) soon after a thyroidectomy is linked to a greater risk of chronic hypoparathyroidism, or that lasting more than six months, a study reported. Its findings suggest that blood tests to measure PTH levels may allow doctors to discharge sooner patients who are at low…

Visen Pharmaceuticals has obtained regulatory clearance to start the PaTHway China Trial, a Phase 3 study of TransCon PTH as a hormone replacement therapy for people with hypoparathyroidism in China. The approval from China’s Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration came on June 1,…