In most cases, the exact cause is not known. Factors that may contribute to hyperparathyroidism include:
- Adenoma (benign tumor) in the parathyroid gland (accounting for 85% of primary hyperparathyroidism)
- Hyperplasia (enlargement) of the parathyroid glands (accounting for over 80% of secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism)
- Parathyroid cancer
- Familial hyperparathyroidism
- Vitamin D deficiency (due to malabsorption, lack of sunlight exposure, inadequate dietary intake)
-
Radiation therapy
to head or neck during childhood
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)
- Kidney failure or other medical problems that make the body resistant to the action of the parathyroid hormone (called secondary hyperparathyroidism)
The following factors increase your chance of developing hyperparathyroidism:
-
Sex: female (hyperparathyroidism is three times more common in women, especially after
menopause
)
- Age: older than 60 years
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia (an inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands)
- Genetics that make you more likely to have hyperparathyroidism