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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a vast government bureaucracy, employs about 17,500 people and had a budget of $5.7 billion in 2019. Yet even with its enormous resources, the FDA these days relies more and more on patients to…

The gleaming new Dutch headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), fronting Domenico Scarlattilaan in Amsterdam’s suburban Zuidas business district, finally opened for business last month — just over two years after the European Union decided to relocate the EMA to the Netherlands in the wake of Brexit.

A new questionnaire devised from complaints of patients with hypoparathyroidism may better assess quality of life and the characteristic symptoms of the disorder, according to a study. The study, “The HPQ—Development and First Administration of a Questionnaire for Hypoparathyroid Patients,” was published in the journal JBMR Plus. Among…

People with hypoparathyroidism after surgical removal of the thyroid may develop calcium-alkali syndrome (CAS) — particularly if they are given high doses of vitamin D as a part of post-surgical care, a new study suggests. These findings highlight a need for routine surveillance of calcium levels following thyroid…

People with type 2 diabetes mellitus and muscle pain should have the calcium levels in their blood measured to check for hypoparathyroidism, a case report suggests. The study, “Type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism where poor glycaemic control was associated with low adherence…

People with uncontrolled chronic hypoparathyroidism may more effectively manage their condition by taking oral calcium supplements every other day instead of daily, new research suggests. This finding was reported in “Alternate-day calcium dosing may be an effective treatment option for chronic hypoparathyroidism,” a study published in the…

Hypoparathyroidism may be the underlying cause of movement disorders, such as chorea, that are associated with calcium deposits in the brain, a case study reports. In patients with such motor problems and brain calcifications but no other neurological signs, doctors should strongly consider hypoparathyroidism, the researchers said.

Lower levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in people with hypoparathyroidism may lead to decreased bone material strength and increase the risk of fractures, a new study reports. The study, “PTH and bone material strength in hypoparathyroidism as measured by impact microindentation,” was published in the journal…

A 61-year-old woman’s case calls attention to the potential development of calcium-alkali syndrome (CAS) — a condition that can damage the kidneys — due to taking too many calcium and vitamin D supplements to treat hypoparathyroidism. Although such cases are rare, it is important to raise awareness for…

Despite skyrocketing healthcare costs, President Trump is committed to protecting the 30 million or so Americans with rare diseases and ensuring timely, affordable access to lifesaving treatments, the nation’s highest-ranking health official said. “We have to think about how our financing system can protect those with serious and rare illnesses.