My calcium level has been high-normal for the last two years. My PTH level is high (85 pg/ml). My doctor says I do not need to be concerned because the calcium is still normal - around 10.2 mg/dl. I'm a 73 year old woman. Do I have parathyroid disease?
For your age, this calcium level is not “high-normal” - it is high. A normal calcium range for someone in her 70s would go up to about 10.0, not higher. While I cannot diagnose someone over the internet, I can say that in general, multiple calcium levels over 10.0 and a PTH of 85 in a woman in her 70s are consistent with a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism.
Even though your calcium levels are only “mildly” elevated, they can still cause problems. Most people with primary hyperparathyroidism will develop symptoms over time, even if the calcium remains just mildly elevated. For this reason, I recommend that those with primary hyperparathyroidism pursue treatment (parathyroidectomy), even if the calcium is just a little over the normal range.
