Browse Guides  internal medicine  endocrine and metabolic disorders

Hypercalcaemia

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Clinical features

Many patients with hypercalcaemia are asymptomatic  c.
Clinical features can be non-specific.

Ask about c

  • known malignancy 
  • symptoms of hypercalcaemia e.g. lethargy or polyuria
  • endocrine disorders
Ask about medication d
  • which may exacerbate hypercalcaemia (e.g. thiazides, vitamin D)
  • which may be more toxic (e.g. digoxin) d
Look for c   
  • dehydration
  • polyuria
  • gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, constipation)
  • confusion and psychiatric symptoms 

  •  a cause a e.g. evidence of malignancy

Expiry date: September 2004
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author   CM   Ball
Reviewer   S B   Ramirez
CAT Writers   CM   Ball , CJ   Wotton