Causes of arterial hypertension: among these, normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism

By Cristiano Antonino On Mar 14, 2023

Causes of arterial hypertension: primary normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism (IPNC) is defined as a condition in which increased parathyroid hormone levels are found in the presence of normal calcium values, after excluding the secondary causes of hyperparathyroidism

This pathology is considered a possible cause of hypertension.

What are the causes of arterial hypertension?

Arterial hypertension (HA) frequently has endocrinological causes, among which the one relating to primary hyperparathyroidism with hypercalcemia is well known.

However, little is known about the relationship between hypertension and hyperparathyroidism.

The relationship between blood pressure and hyperparathyroidism

A study published in 2015 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism demonstrates a relationship between these two pathologies.

In the retrospective study, 940 patients were enrolled between September 2010 and December 2013.

Among these, 11 subjects were identified with a condition of IPNC while normal levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium were found in the remainder.

No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of age, sex, BMI, calcium, 25 hydroxy-vitamin D, creatinine, glycemia, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol.

Subjects with normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism had higher blood pressure levels, both systolic and diastolic, than those with normal PTH.

The authors conclude that the risk of arterial hypertension is higher in patients with IPNC

In these cases it is necessary to have a more decisive attitude in restoring normal PTH levels even if the Calcaemia is normal.

Wanting to make a side consideration, probably to favor the increase in blood pressure values in patients with calcemic hyperparathyroidism, the bidirectional relationships between Parathyroid hormone and Aldosterone, already reported in previous scientific reports, could not be extraneous.