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Glucocorticoid suppression test in hypercalcaemia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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A glucocorticoid suppression test consists of ten days of 40 mg hydrocortisone eight hourly. A fasting plasma sample is taken for calcium before and after the test.

Common causes of hypercalcaemia which corrects after the glucocorticoid suppression test include:

  • malignant disease (about 50% of cases)
  • sarcoidosis
  • vitamin D toxicity
  • thyrotoxicosis

Common causes of hypercalcaemic which does not correct after the glucocorticoid suppression test include:

  • malignant disease
  • primary hyperparathyroidism

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