The effects of successful parathyroidectomy on clinical and biological manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: To assess changes of clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and bone mineral density after parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism.

METHODS

In 39 patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing parathyroidectomy, data of preoperative symptoms and bone densitometry were collected from the medical records. A telephone survey was used to collect information on postoperative symptoms and the patient's degree of satisfaction with the operation. Results of biochemical parameters before surgery, at the immediate postoperative period, and at late follow-up were compared. Differences of proportions were assessed with the chi-square test and differences in means with the one-way ANOVA and the Student's t test.

RESULTS

A significant decrease was observed in the occurrence of renal colic and bone pain after parathyroidectomy. Calcium and PTH levels decreased and phosphorus levels increased significantly after the operation. 24-hour renal calcium excretion showed a statistically significant decrease in the immediate postoperative control and at follow-up in patients without renal colic, whereas in those with nephrolithiasis, significant differences were only observed at follow-up. Alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly in the immediate postoperative period, and bone densitometry improved in a 90% of the patients. Ninety-six percent of patients were satisfied with parathyroidectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this clinical series, successful parathyroidectomy resulted in improvement of clinical manifestations, normalization of biochemical parameters, and a decrease in osteoporosis. Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with parathyroidectomy.