Further Outpatient Care

In most cases, follow-up care is dictated by the etiology of hypercalcemia. If the hypercalcemia is related to malignancy, efforts are directed towards treating the neoplasm.

Oral phosphates have only a limited role in the treatment of hypercalcemia and are increasingly replaced by bisphosphonates. However, when phosphates are used, especially for treating chronic hypercalcemia, attention should be paid to hyperphosphatemia and the calcium and phosphate product because this tends to increase the risk of metastatic calcification.

Restriction of dietary calcium and administration of glucocorticoids remains the preferred treatment for hypercalcemia due to sarcoidosis and vitamin D intoxication.

Questions

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Investigations flowchart.
Vitamin D metabolism.

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Author

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine; President and CEO, Space City Associates of Nephrology

Mahendra Agraharkar, MD, MBBS, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

O David Dellinger, III, MD Assistant Professor, Departments of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham

O David Dellinger, III, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Geriatrics Society, AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, American Society of Addiction Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arun Kumar Gangakhedkar, MD, FRACP Consultant in General Pediatrics, Starship Children's Hospital/Waitakere Hospital, New Zealand

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Christie P Thomas, MBBS, FRCP, FASN, FAHA Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Director, Kidney and Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Christie P Thomas, MBBS, FRCP, FASN, FAHA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Society of Nephrology, Royal College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FASN Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hypercalcemia Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

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