Parathyroid Panel Test

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is secreted by parathyroid glands. PTH controls the level of calcium in blood. Parathyroid panel test is often done to find cause of hyper or hypocalcaemia, osteoporosis, kidney stone and low vitamin D levels. PTH is released into blood in response to falling calcium levels and causes bone resorption, increased absorption of calcium from kidneys and vitamin D production in kidneys. Abnormal PTH levels can often affect other systems like bones, liver and kidneys as well. Parathyroid panel is a comprehensive profile test that measures various other parameters apart from the PTH levels to monitor the status of these organs.

A parathyroid panel helps in evaluating the functioning of the parathyroid gland and related metabolic processes in the body. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) test helps measure the level of PTH in our blood. This test is used to evaluate and diagnose conditions such as hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism, which can cause abnormal levels of calcium in the blood and can lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, kidney stones and muscle weakness.

What are parathyroid hormones?

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone produced by the parathyroid glands, which are four small glands located in the neck near the thyroid gland. PTH helps to regulate the balance of calcium and phosphorus levels in the body. When the calcium level in the blood drops, the parathyroid glands release PTH, which signals the body to release stored calcium from the bones and increase calcium absorption from the gut.

PTH also decreases the loss of calcium in the urine. In this way, PTH helps to keep the calcium level in the blood within a normal range. However, if the parathyroid glands overproduce PTH, the body will have too much calcium in the blood, which can lead to a condition called hyperparathyroidism. On the other hand, if the parathyroid glands underproduce PTH, the body will have too little calcium in the blood, which can lead to a condition called hypoparathyroidism. Both types of parathyroidism can result in various health conditions such as osteoporosis, muscle weakness and kidney stones.

Written by: Dr. Shibani R, Medical Writer, Medical Affairs