hypercalcemia /hī′pərkalsē″mē·ə/ [Gk, hyper + L, calx, lime; Gk, haima, blood] , adj., greater-than-normal amounts of calcium in the blood, most often resulting from excessive bone resorption and release of calcium, as occurs in hyperparathyroidism, metastatic tumors of bone, Paget’s disease, and osteoporosis. Clinically patients with hypercalcemia experience confusion, anorexia, abdominal pain, muscle pain, and weakness. Extremely high levels of blood calcium may result in coma, shock, kidney failure, and death. Hypercalciuria is also found in most patients with elevated blood calcium level. Prednisone, diuretics, isotonic saline solution, and other drugs may be used in treatment. Also spelled hypercalcaemia. −hypercalcemic, adj.
