National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hypocalcemia, autosomal dominant



The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 428

Definition
A rare disorder of calcium homeostasis characterized by variable degrees of hypocalcemia with abnormally low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and persistant normal or elevated calciuria.

Epidemiology
Prevalence is unknown, but the disease is likely to be underdiagnosed as the hypocalcemia may remain asymptomatic.

Clinical description
Clinical expression and age of onset are extremely variable (depending on the degree of hypocalcemia), ranging from completely asymptomatic patients (in whom the diagnosis is made by chance during a routine exam) to patients with limited symptoms (cramps, asthenia, paresthesias) and patients with severe symptoms (i.e. recurrent seizures). In addition to hypocalcemia, hypercalciuria or relative hypercalciuria (hypercalciuria within the normal range, but relatively high in the presence of hypocalcemia) is present. Hyperphosphatemia, hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesuria are also common. Nephrocalcinosis and impaired renal function have been reported and cases of AD hypocalcemia with classical features of Bartter syndrome (BS; see this term) have been described (referred to as BS with hypocalcemia; see this term). Serum levels of PTH are normal or low. In addition to regulation by PTH, environmental factors also influence calcium homeostasis and may explain why an initially well-controlled hypocalcemia may become symptomatic at various stages of life.

Etiology
AD hypocalcemia is caused by activating mutations of the gene CASR (3q21.1), encoding the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). CaSR plays a key role in the regulation of calcium-phosphate metabolism by controlling PTH secretion and urinary calcium excretion in response to variations in serum calcium levels. Gain-of-function CASR mutations result in increased sensitivity of parathyroid and renal cells to calcium levels, leading to hypocalcemia being perceived as normal. Activating mutations in GNA11 (19p13.3) have also been described.

Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis is made through analysis of calcium levels in the serum and urine and PTH levels, Molecular analysis of CaSR followed by GNA11 confirms diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis includes all other causes of hypoparathyroidism as well as BS in patients with renal salt wasting.

Antenatal diagnosis
Antenatal diagnosis is possible.

Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling may be proposed but patients should be informed about the wide variability in clinical presentation.

Management and treatment
Treatment to normalize calcemia levels should be considered with caution, as any increase in calcium levels (even within the normal range) will be perceived by renal cells as hypercalcemia and lead to increased urinary calcium excretion, and possibly to nephrocalcinosis and renal failure. Treatment should aim towards finding a balance between the clinical signs of hypocalcemia and maintenance of calcium homeostasis, without being iatrogenic. Urine calcium levels should be monitored in order to avoid hypercalciuria rather than adapting treatment towards hypocalcemia. In asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, treatment may not be necessary. Special care must be given to children as chronic hypocalcemia has deleterious effects on intellectual development. Treatment is based on administration of 1-alpha hydroxylated vitamin D (doses ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 micrograms/day in adults; higher doses are sometimes required in children). Careful monitoring of calciuria and regular kidney ultrasound are required. In cases where calcium homeostasis is difficult to achieve, exogenous PTH administered by infusion pump can be proposed.

Prognosis
The prognosis is variable, depending on the severity of the hypocalcemia and the possible consequences of inadequate treatment.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 5/1/2014

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 28 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Anxiety
Excessive, persistent worry and fear
0000739
Cortical myoclonus 0040148
Depressivity
Depression
0000716
EMG abnormality 0003457
Emotional lability
Emotional instability
0000712
Fatigable weakness 0003473
Hypercalciuria
Elevated urine calcium levels
0002150
Hypocalcemia
Low blood calcium levels
0002901
Paresthesia
Pins and needles feeling
Tingling
[ more ]
0003401
Writer's cramp 0002356
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ]
0002027
Abnormal fingernail morphology
Abnormal fingernails
Abnormality of the fingernails
[ more ]
0001231
Abnormal pattern of respiration
Abnormal respiratory patterns
Unusual breathing patterns
[ more ]
0002793
Alopecia
Hair loss
0001596
Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rate
Heart rhythm disorders
Irregular heart beat
Irregular heartbeat
[ more ]
0011675
Dry skin 0000958
Hypermagnesiuria 0012608
Hyperphosphatemia
High blood phosphate levels
0002905
Hypomagnesemia
Low blood magnesium levels
0002917
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
0002615
Nephrocalcinosis
Too much calcium deposited in kidneys
0000121
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Congestive heart failure
Cardiac failure
Cardiac failures
Heart failure
[ more ]
0001635
Eczema 0000964
Increased intracranial pressure
Rise in pressure inside skull
0002516
Irregular hyperpigmentation 0007400
Optic atrophy 0000648
Reduced bone mineral density
Low solidness and mass of the bones
0004349
Reduced consciousness/confusion
Disturbances of consciousness
Lowered consciousness
[ more ]
0004372
Showing of 28 |
Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Hypocalcemia, autosomal dominant. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.