Several factors are known to cause hypoparathyroidism, including:
- Absence of the parathyroid glands at birth
-
Damage to the parathyroid glands by
radiation
-
Drugs (
cimetidine
, aluminium,
doxorubicin
)
- Removal of the parathyroid glands
- Underlying autoimmune disorders
- Genetics
- DiGeorge syndrome
-
Magnesium deficiency (due to
alcoholism
, malnutrition)
- Autoimmune: polyglandular autoimmunity type 2 or autoimmune hypoparathyroidism
-
Other causes: metal (iron, magnesium, aluminium) overload,
cancer
, or infectious diseases (eg,
HIV
)
The following factors increase your chance of developing hypoparathyroidism:
- Thyroid or parathyroid surgery
- Family history of hypoparathyroidism
- Age: under 16 years old or over 40 years
old