Complications

Complications of hyperparathyroidism are mainly related to the long-term effect of too little calcium in your bones and too much calcium in your bloodstream. Common complications include:

• Osteoporosis. The loss of calcium often results in weak, brittle bones that fracture easily (osteoporosis).
• Kidney stones. Too much calcium in your blood may lead to too much calcium in your urine, which can cause small, hard deposits of calcium and other substances to form in your kidneys. A kidney stone usually causes major pain as it passes through the urinary tract.
• Cardiovascular disease. Although the exact cause-and-effect link is unclear, high calcium levels are associated with cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure and certain types of heart disease.
• Neonatal hypoparathyroidism. Severe, untreated hyperparathyroidism in pregnant women may cause dangerously low levels of calcium in newborns.