Pulmonary function tests in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

CONTEXT: There is limited information on respiratory muscle functions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

AIM: To assess respiratory muscle dysfunction in patients with PHPT.

SETTING AND

DESIGN

This prospective study was carried between January 2005 and December 2006 by the Department of Endocrinology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

PHPT was defined as elevated parathyroid hormone in the presence of hypercalcemia. Spirometry was performed using a dry rolling seal spirometer and spirometric indices like forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV(1)), and FEV(1)/FVC ratio were measured using standard guidelines.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were studied with a mean age of 37.1 ± 2.4 years and 18 were women. The most common presenting symptoms were fatigue (75.0%) and bone pain (60.70%). The mean (±SD) of percentage predicted FVE(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF were 98.7 ± 16.1, 93.9 ± 14.7, 84.5 ± 3.4, 89.3 ± 22.5, and 99.7 ± 33.6, respectively. Two had obstructive lung disease and two had restrictive lung disease. We did not find correlation with preoperative serum calcium, phosphate, and PTH with FVE(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF.

CONCLUSION

Elevated calcium, low phosphate, and elevated PTH levels in patients with moderate to severe PHPT do not significantly affect respiratory muscle functions.