DOI: 10.12890/2025_005546
Unmasking the hidden threat: a case and review of primary hyperparathyroidism-induced pancreatitis diagnosed in pregnancy
Authors
nizaralyassin1@gmail.com
Keywords
Primary hyperparathyroidism, pancreatitis, pancreatitis in pregnancy, parathyroid hormone, hypercalcemiaAbstract
Primary hyperparathyroidism is a very well-documented and understood endocrine pathology that includes the overproduction of parathyroid hormone, leading to an exaggerated effect of hypercalcemia. However, its prevalence leading to pancreatitis, specifically in pregnant patients, is underreported and widely undiagnosed. In this case, we present a case of a 23-year-old female in her second pregnancy who presented with pancreatitis after already being treated and diagnosed with pancreatitis in her first pregnancy. It was later discovered that this patient had a nodule believed to be a parathyroid adenoma. We believe this parathyroid adenoma alone could have gone unnoticed, but with concurrent changes and physiology of pregnancy, caused a significant burden of pancreatitis on our patient, not only in one pregnancy, but in both of her pregnancies.
References
- Augustin G, Lai Q, Cigrovski Berkovic M. Primary hyperparathyroidism-induced acute pancreatitis in pregnancy: A systematic review with a diagnostic-treatment algorithm. World J Gastroenterol 2024;30:3755-3765. doi:10.3748/wjg.v30.i32.3755
- Yeh MW, Ituarte PH, Zhou HC, Nishimoto S, Liu IL, Harari A, et al. Incidence and prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism in a racially mixed population. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013;98:1122-1129. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-4022
- Adami S, Marcocci C, Gatti D. Epidemiology of primary hyperparathyroidism in Europe. J Bone Miner Res 2002;17:N18-N23.
- McCarthy A, Howarth S, Khoo S, Syed AA, Stewart PM, Gittoes NJ, et al. Management of primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy: a case series. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep 2019;2019:19-0039. doi: 10.1530/EDM-19-0039
- Krysiak R, Wilk M, Okopien B. Recurrent pancreatitis induced by hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2011;284:531-534. doi:10.1007/s00404-010-1668-x
- Diaz-Soto G, Linglart A, Sénat MV, Kamenicky P, Chanson P. Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy. Endocrine 2013;44:591-597. doi:10.1007/s12020-013-9980-4
- Ali DS, Dandurand K, Khan AA. Hypoparathyroidism in pregnancy and lactation: Current approach to diagnosis and management. J Clin Med 2021;10:1378. doi:10.3390/jcm10071378
- Rupprecht H, Reinfelder J, Turkoglu A. A case of severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis in a 38-year-old woman postpartum due to a parathyroid adenoma. GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW 2017;6:Doc13. doi:10.3205/iprs000115
- Lee CC, Chao AS, Chang YL, Peng HH, Wang TH, Chao A. Acute pancreatitis secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism in a postpartum patient: a case report and literature review. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2014;53:252-255. doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2013.01.029
- Papadakis EP, Sarigianni M, Mikhailidis DP, Mamopoulos A, Karagiannis V. Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy: an overview. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011;159:261-266. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.07.037
- Klimek M, Fecko M, Zielinski T, Jasiówka M, Szydelko T, Ptak M, et al. Acute pancreatitis associated with primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. Endokrynol Pol 2024;75:334-335. doi:10.5603/ep.99376
