Expert Views on Hypopara

The Seeds of Change initiative is committed to supporting greater understanding of hypoparathyroidism (hypopara) and the impact it has on patients’ lives. Through collaboration with leading professionals in hypopara, we explore the complexities of hypopara management, share insights from real patient experiences, and reflect on how clinical practice can continue to evolve – helping healthcare professionals better support those living with this rare condition.

Beyond the Numbers: Breaking Down Misconceptions in Hypoparathyroidism

By Dr Zaki Hassan-Smith, Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; Clinical Associate Professor, Aston University.

Dr Hassan-Smith reflects on the potential limitations of a metrics-only approach to hypopara management, the need to recognise psychological burden, long-term complications, and the role of patient empowerment and community support in improving outcomes.

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The Silent Condition: Managing Long-Term Complications in Hypoparathyroidism

By Dr Afroze Abbas, Consultant Endocrinologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Dr Abbas focuses on the often-overlooked long-term complications of hypopara, including renal, cardiovascular, bone and cognitive risk.

He highlights the importance of proactive monitoring, multidisciplinary care and patient education to achieve improved long-term outcomes for people living with hypopara.

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Missing from the Metrics: Navigating Symptom Fluctuations in Hypopara Care for Women

By Dr Victoria Stokes, Consultant Endocrinologist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Victoria Stokes discusses the challenges faced by women living with hypoparathyroidism, particularly during pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause, where hormonal fluctuations and life stages complicate symptom management and monitoring. She highlights the potential limitations of current care models that rely on infrequent biochemical assessments, advocating for more dynamic, patient-centred approaches.

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Think Calcium, Think Long-Term: Bridging the Gaps in the Hypoparathyroidism Care Pathway

By Professor Peter Selby, Consultant Physician and Honorary Clinical Professor of Metabolic Bone Disease.

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“For some people with hypopara, their symptoms can be well managed. For others however, managing the condition can be very challenging, mainly due to its broad and indistinct symptoms”

Dr Zaki Hassan-Smith

“Clinicians must remain vigilant about the potential long-term complications of hypopara that can emerge over time”

Dr Zaki Hassan-Smith

“Evolving management practices that include comprehensive long-term care strategies are required to ensure physicians can keep patients out of hospital, whilst minimising the complications related to chronic hypopara”

Dr Zaki Hassan-Smith

“In today’s hypopara treatment landscape, the current focus on short-term serum calcium correction is not going far enough. Effective management demands a broader and more comprehensive approach”

Dr Afroze Abbas

“Looking ahead, we must reframe the way we think about hypopara. This includes investment in and implementing more regular proactive surveillance of long-term complications”

Dr Afroze Abbas

“We must continue focusing on patient education and empowerment, to help individuals living with hypopara and their families to better understand their condition and manage symptoms”

Dr Afroze Abbas

“To ensure continuity of care, it is critical that all healthcare professionals involved in maternity care, including obstetricians, midwives and general practitioners, are aware of the continuous monitoring requirements for women with hypopara”

Dr Victoria Stokes

“Differentiating between perimenopausal changes and hypopara-related symptom manifestations can be challenging for both patients and clinicians. This often necessitates a more nuanced and collaborative approach to management”

Dr Victoria Stokes

“Optimising the hypopara pathway requires a multi-pronged approach across primary care professionals (from GPs to pharmacists), endocrinologists (specialist bone and calcium experts and more general endocrine doctors and nurses), and patients and carers themselves”

Professor Peter Selby

“We need to improve the systematic review of long-term medication use to ensure that proactive monitoring is embedded and therefore over-treatment is flagged early. Other chronic conditions, like diabetes, offer a useful comparison”

Professor Peter Selby