Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by the parathyroid glands.
   • The physiological result: This hormone deficiency leads to abnormally low levels of calcium (hypocalcemia) and high levels of phosphorus in the blood.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery.
  • Chronic hypoparathyroidism requires lifelong calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
  • A common cause of hypoparathyroidism is accidental damage to the parathyroid glands during neck surgery.

Advanced Usage

• "Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism": A form of the condition where the cause is unknown.
  • The child's symptoms were attributed to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism.
• "Postsurgical hypoparathyroidism": The most common form, occurring after surgery on the thyroid or parathyroid glands.
  • Managing postsurgical hypoparathyroidism is a key part of postoperative care.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypoparathyroid (adj): Relating to or affected by hypoparathyroidism.
  • The hypoparathyroid state was confirmed by blood tests.
• Hyperparathyroidism (n): The opposite condition, involving excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone.

Synonyms

• Parathyroid insufficiency: A more descriptive medical term for the condition.
• PTH deficiency: Refers directly to the lack of the specific hormone.

Related Medical Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Hypocalcemia: Low blood calcium, the primary consequence of hypoparathyroidism.
• Tetany: A symptom of severe hypocalcemia involving muscle cramps and spasms, often seen in hypoparathyroidism.
• Parathyroid hormone (PTH): The hormone that is deficient in this condition.

Noun

1. inadequate secretion of parathyroid hormone resulting in abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood