Hypercalcemia. How to pinpoint the cause and customize treatment.

Hypercalcemia is a commonly diagnosed metabolic disorder that is most often caused by primary hyperparathyroidism or malignant disease. Parathyroid hormone assays are useful and reliable in differential diagnosis. Treatment depends on the degree of hypercalcemia, symptoms, and the underlying cause. Pharmacologic therapy, especially with bisphosphonates, may effectively lower serum calcium levels, but the underlying cause of the hypercalcemia must be treated to definitively restored normocalcemia.