BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPseudohypoparathyroidismAlbright hereditary osteodystrophy; Types 1A and 1B pseudohypoparathyroidism; PHPPseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a genetic disorder in which the body fails to respond to parathyroid hormone. A related condition is hypoparathyroidism, in which the body does not make enough parathyroid hormone. HypoparathyroidismHypoparathyroidism is a disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps regulate calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels in the blood and is important for bone health.If you have PHP, your body produces the right amount of PTH, but is resistant to its effect. This causes low blood calcium levels and high blood phosphate levels.PHP is caused by abnormal genes. There are different types of PHP. All forms are rare and are usually diagnosed in childhood.Type 1a is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. That means only one parent needs to pass you the variant gene for you to have the condition. It is also called Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. The condition causes short stature, round face, obesity, developmental delay, and short hand bones. Symptoms depend on whether you inherit the gene from your mother or father. Autosomal dominant mannerAutosomal dominant is one of many ways that a genetic trait or disorder can be passed down through families. In an autosomal dominant disease, if you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1b involves resistance to PTH only in the kidneys. Less is known about type 1b than type 1a. Calcium in the blood is low, but there are none of the other characteristic features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. Type 2 also involves low blood calcium and high blood phosphate levels. People with this form do not have the physical traits common to people with Type 1a. The genetic abnormality that causes it is not known. It is different from Type 1b in how the kidney responds to high PTH levels. Symptoms Symptoms are related to a low level of calcium and include:Cataracts CataractsA cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dental problems Numbness Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tetany (a collection of symptoms including muscle twitches and hand and foot cramps and muscle spasms) People with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy may have the following symptoms:Calcium deposits under the skin Dimples that can replace knuckles on affected fingers Round face and short neck Short hand bones, especially the bone below the 4th finger Short height Exams and Tests Blood tests will be done to check calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels. You may also need urine tests.CalciumThe calcium blood test measures the level of calcium in the blood. This article discusses the test to measure the total amount of calcium in your blo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PhosphorusThe phosphorus blood test measures the amount of phosphate in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PTHThe PTH test measures the level of parathyroid hormone in the blood. PTH stands for parathyroid hormone. It is a protein hormone released by the par...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests may include:Genetic testing Head MRI or CT scan of the brainHead MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the brainA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your health care provider will recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements to maintain a proper blood calcium level. If the blood phosphate level is high, you may need to follow a low-phosphorus diet or take medicines called phosphate binders (such as calcium carbonate or calcium acetate). Treatment is usually life-long. Outlook (Prognosis) Low blood calcium in PHP is usually milder than in other forms of hypoparathyroidism, but the severity of symptoms can be different between different people. Possible Complications People with type 1a PHP are more likely to have other endocrine system problems (such as hypothyroidism and hypogonadism).HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypogonadismHypogonadism occurs when the body's sex glands (gonads) produce little or no hormones. In men, these glands are the testes. In women, these glands ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PHP may be connected to other hormone problems, resulting in:Low sex drive Slow sexual development Low energy levels Weight gain When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you or your child have any symptoms of a low calcium level or pseudohypoparathyroidism.Open ReferencesReferencesBastepe M, Juppner H. Pseudohypoparathyroidism, Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy, and progressive osseous heteroplasia: disorders caused by inactivating GNAS mutations that reduce Gsa activity. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.Hanley PC, Doyle DA. Pseudohypoparathyroidism. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 612.Thakker RV. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia, and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 227.AllVideoImagesTogEndocrine glands - illustration Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).Endocrine glandsillustrationParathyroid glands - illustration The 4 parathyroid glands are located near or attached to the back side of the thyroid gland and produce parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium balance within the blood and bone by maintaining a balance between the mineral levels in the blood and the bone. Parathyroid glandsillustrationEndocrine glands - illustration Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the rate of metabolism in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).Endocrine glandsillustrationParathyroid glands - illustration The 4 parathyroid glands are located near or attached to the back side of the thyroid gland and produce parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium balance within the blood and bone by maintaining a balance between the mineral levels in the blood and the bone. Parathyroid glandsillustrationRelated Information Hypoparathyroidism(Condition)Parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood test(Medical Test)Renal(Special Topic)Central nervous system(Special Topic)Hypothyroidism(Condition)Hypogonadism(Condition)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/20/2024 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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PseudohypoparathyroidismAlbright hereditary osteodystrophy; Types 1A and 1B pseudohypoparathyroidism; PHPPseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a genetic disorder in which the body fails to respond to parathyroid hormone. A related condition is hypoparathyroidism, in which the body does not make enough parathyroid hormone. HypoparathyroidismHypoparathyroidism is a disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps regulate calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels in the blood and is important for bone health.If you have PHP, your body produces the right amount of PTH, but is resistant to its effect. This causes low blood calcium levels and high blood phosphate levels.PHP is caused by abnormal genes. There are different types of PHP. All forms are rare and are usually diagnosed in childhood.Type 1a is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. That means only one parent needs to pass you the variant gene for you to have the condition. It is also called Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. The condition causes short stature, round face, obesity, developmental delay, and short hand bones. Symptoms depend on whether you inherit the gene from your mother or father. Autosomal dominant mannerAutosomal dominant is one of many ways that a genetic trait or disorder can be passed down through families. In an autosomal dominant disease, if you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 1b involves resistance to PTH only in the kidneys. Less is known about type 1b than type 1a. Calcium in the blood is low, but there are none of the other characteristic features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. Type 2 also involves low blood calcium and high blood phosphate levels. People with this form do not have the physical traits common to people with Type 1a. The genetic abnormality that causes it is not known. It is different from Type 1b in how the kidney responds to high PTH levels. Symptoms Symptoms are related to a low level of calcium and include:Cataracts CataractsA cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dental problems Numbness Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tetany (a collection of symptoms including muscle twitches and hand and foot cramps and muscle spasms) People with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy may have the following symptoms:Calcium deposits under the skin Dimples that can replace knuckles on affected fingers Round face and short neck Short hand bones, especially the bone below the 4th finger Short height Exams and Tests Blood tests will be done to check calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels. You may also need urine tests.CalciumThe calcium blood test measures the level of calcium in the blood. This article discusses the test to measure the total amount of calcium in your blo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PhosphorusThe phosphorus blood test measures the amount of phosphate in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PTHThe PTH test measures the level of parathyroid hormone in the blood. PTH stands for parathyroid hormone. It is a protein hormone released by the par...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests may include:Genetic testing Head MRI or CT scan of the brainHead MRIA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the brainA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your health care provider will recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements to maintain a proper blood calcium level. If the blood phosphate level is high, you may need to follow a low-phosphorus diet or take medicines called phosphate binders (such as calcium carbonate or calcium acetate). Treatment is usually life-long. Outlook (Prognosis) Low blood calcium in PHP is usually milder than in other forms of hypoparathyroidism, but the severity of symptoms can be different between different people. Possible Complications People with type 1a PHP are more likely to have other endocrine system problems (such as hypothyroidism and hypogonadism).HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypogonadismHypogonadism occurs when the body's sex glands (gonads) produce little or no hormones. In men, these glands are the testes. In women, these glands ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PHP may be connected to other hormone problems, resulting in:Low sex drive Slow sexual development Low energy levels Weight gain When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you or your child have any symptoms of a low calcium level or pseudohypoparathyroidism.Open ReferencesReferencesBastepe M, Juppner H. Pseudohypoparathyroidism, Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy, and progressive osseous heteroplasia: disorders caused by inactivating GNAS mutations that reduce Gsa activity. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.Hanley PC, Doyle DA. Pseudohypoparathyroidism. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 612.Thakker RV. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia, and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 227.