A 13-year-old boy with autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) — a genetic form of hypoparathyroidism characterized by low calcium — who was unresponsive to conventional therapies was successfully treated with recombinant parathyroid hormone (rhPTH), according to a case report. rhPTH is a synthetic parathyroid hormone that can help regulate calcium…
Patients with hypoparathyroidism experience reduced health-related quality of life, as compared to those without the disease, regardless of blood calcium levels, according to a new study. The authors of the study suggest that some of these health-related quality of life issues may be amended with the use of PTH…
Children with thyroid cancer or disease who undergo surgery to remove that gland can commonly have their parathyroid glands accidentally removed during the thyroidectomy, a U.S. study reports. While such surgeries are rare in children, this finding calls for meticulous attention from surgeons performing a thyroidectomy — especially if examining…
Twice-daily treatment with Forsteo (teriparatide) — a synthetic parathyroid hormone fragment sold as Forteo in the U.S. — safely and significantly improves calcium and phosphate control in children with hypoparathyroidism who failed to respond to standard treatment, a small study in France shows. During treatment of at least…
A new study out of the Netherlands has found a high incidence — 15% — of long-term hypoparathyroidism in patients after surgery on the thyroid gland. “These data provide a better understanding of the magnitude of this postoperative complication and enable more realistic information for patients who are undergoing…
An 86-year-old woman with hypoparathyroidism and progressive cognitive deficits was found to have calcium deposits in both hemispheres of her brain, according to a case report. The study, “Hypoparathyroidism Associated with Vascular Centrum Semiovale Calcifications,” was reported in the journal Annals of Neurology. Hypoparathyroidism is typically associated…
TransCon PTH normalized calcium levels in the blood and urine of adults with hypoparathyroidism and eliminated the need for vitamin D supplements and high doses of calcium, according to more than 1.5 years of trial data. This data — 84 weeks’ worth in all — came from the…
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…
Over 230 national organizations signed a letter urging all 50 U.S. state governors to “maintain and expand” flexibility with licensure requirements for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease access to care. During the pandemic, governors used emergency authority to waive certain state licensure requirements, giving healthcare providers…
A retrospective study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that healthcare costs for those with rare diseases have been underestimated, possibly being three to five times higher than for those without rare diseases. This study provides evidence of the potential effect rare diseases may have on public health…
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