[Clinical and biochemical diagnosis of pHPT and sHPT, surgical indications from the internal medicine viewpoint].

Hypercalcemia and a relative nonsuppressibility of parathyroid hormone by calcium are the biochemical hallmarks of primary hyperparathyroidism. An elevated PTH level should be defined in a highly sensitive and specific test system. Primary HPT is the single major cause of hypercalcemia in outpatients. A definitive medical option to manage PHP does not exist. Surgical neck exploration by an experienced surgeon has a very high success rate for cure in both symptomatic and asymptomatic disease forms. Secondary HPT is mostly due to renal failure. Nonsuppressibility of PTH by use of vitamin D sterols indicates parathyroid gland hyperplasia and autonomy of PTH secretion. Surgery should correct PTH excess and should lead to an optimal bone status.