Blood pressure in subjects with hypercalcaemia and primary hyperparathyroidism detected in a health screening programme

Abstract

Primary hyperparathyroidism was the most likely diagnosis in 68 non-thiazide treated patients with hypercalcemia detected in a health screening. The group included 55 females and 13 males with a mean .+-. SEM [standard error of the mean] age of 55.0 .+-. 0.7 yr. On a pair basis, these patients were compared with a series of 68 age- and sex-matched normocalcemic subjects selected from the health screening register. Five subjects in each group were receiving medication for hypertension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the hypercalcemic subjects in the remaining 58 pairs (P < 0.001). This difference was unrelated to impaired renal filtration and many other factors associated with hypertension. Hypercalcemia and/or other effects of deranged parathyroid function per se may result in a blood pressure elevation but may not attain the level of hypertension.