A 55-year-old woman presents with frequent fractures, back pain, and loss of height. She also reports heartburn and constipation. She has a history of kidney stones. What could be the cause, and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms suggest hyperparathyroidism, a condition characterized by overproduction of parathyroid hormone, which leads to high calcium levels, bone loss, and kidney stones. The next step would be to measure serum calcium, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. If these tests confirm hyperparathyroidism, the patient may need imaging of the parathyroid glands and potentially surgery, depending on the severity of symptoms and calcium levels.