Hypercalcemia
- Treat cause + severity
- Severe symptomatic disease → IV saline
- Calcitonin lowers Ca quickly but tachyphylaxes
- Bisphosphonate/denosumab gives sustained effect
- Glucocorticoid for vitamin-D–mediated causes
- Dialysis for selected severe renal/refractory cases
Use at a glance
- Treat cause + severity
Practical pearls
- Calcitonin lowers Ca quickly but tachyphylaxes
- Bisphosphonate/denosumab gives sustained effect
Escalation / refractory disease
- Severe symptomatic disease → IV saline
- Dialysis for selected severe renal/refractory cases
Other practical pearls
- Glucocorticoid for vitamin-D–mediated causes
Self-check
- What limits calcitonin’s rapid calcium-lowering effect?
Tachyphylaxis. - What treats severe symptomatic hypercalcemia?
IV saline.
Drugs used for this (1)
All clinical uses · Open Hypercalcemia in the interactive console ↗