Which condition is most likely to present with fatigue, osteoporosis, and renal stones?

Prepare for USMLE Step 1 Pathology Exam with comprehensive quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Enhance your understanding and be exam-ready!

The presentation of fatigue, osteoporosis, and renal stones is most consistent with primary hyperparathyroidism. In this condition, there is an overproduction of parathyroid hormone due to a parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia, leading to hypercalcemia. Elevated levels of calcium in the blood are responsible for several key features:

  1. Fatigue: Hypercalcemia can cause fatigue and weakness due to its effects on neuromuscular excitability and overall metabolic processes.
  1. Osteoporosis: The excess parathyroid hormone causes increased bone resorption and decreases bone formation, leading to a loss of bone density, which manifests clinically as osteoporosis and increases the risk of fractures.

  2. Renal Stones: Hypercalcemia can lead to the formation of calcium-based kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) due to the saturation of calcium in the urine, promoting crystallization.

The other options present different pathophysiological processes that do not primarily manifest with this combination of symptoms. Secondary hyperparathyroidism typically occurs in response to chronic renal failure and does not feature as prominently with hypercalcemia. Hypoparathyroidism would lead to hypocalcemia, which does not correlate with the symptoms listed. P

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