Approach to the patient: Management of parathyroid diseases across pregnancy


 Taking care of patients with parathyroid disorders during pregnancy requires consideration of the physiological fundamental changes in bone and mineral metabolism occurring in these women. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures regarding primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and hypoparathyroidism significantly differ from the non-pregnant population. PHPT should preferably be cured by parathyroidectomy before pregnancy as in women with hypercalcemic PHPT, maternal and fetal pregnancy complications seem to increase according to the degree of hypercalcemia. Parathyroidectomy, if needed during pregnancy, is preferentially performed in the second trimester. Conservative treatment is recommended for milder cases and is mainly restricted to hydration with only limited evidence regarding drug treatment. Women with hypoparathyroidism can be informed that there are no major concerns regarding disease associated infertility and that the risk of pregnancy complications is low if the disease is properly managed. Regular active surveillance is recommended as requirements for calcium and active vitamin D may change during the course of pregnancy in either direction, with an overall trend for rather reduced doses. Any woman suffering from parathyroid disorders during pregnancy requires further surveillance in the postpartum period and during lactation, as there is an increased risk of hypercalcemia after delivery. Newborns of mothers with parathyroid diseases should, depending on disease severity, be carefully monitored for calcium levels in the first days (to weeks) after delivery as intrauterine exposure to hyper- or hypocalcemia may impact their postnatal regulation of calcium metabolism.