Relationship between Hypercalcemia and Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review Article

 Among the many causes of pancreatitis, primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is rarely associated with pancreatitis. However, the causal relationship between the two is still controversial. Our aim was to investigate and describe the nature of pancreatic disease in PHPT.

In the present systematic review, all qualitative articles related to the objectives of the study, published from 2008 to January 2024, were reviewed. Search in Magiran database, IranDoc, IranMedex, SID, Cochrane library, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed/Medline Embase with keywords: acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis Hypercalcemia, parathyroid  adenoma  Primary  hyperparathyroidism. Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, hypercalcemia, primary hyperparathyroidism, and parathyroid adenoma were performed. The entry criteria were articles in English or Farsi, qualitative articles related to the objectives of the study. Exclusion criteria were articles that were in the form of posters, speeches, letters to the editor, and quantitative studies.

The findings from the review of 20 qualitative studies showed that although the relationship between hypercalcemia caused by parathyroid adenoma and acute pancreatitis is a known medical phenomenon, it is very rare. Therefore, the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis caused by hypercalcemia is not well understood, although some mechanisms have been suggested. Timely diagnosis of hypercalcemia and parathyroid adenoma surgery is the final treatment.

Acute pancreatitis is the first manifestation of a rare clinical symptom caused by hyperkalemia caused by hyperparathyroidism.