[Non-specific symptoms and primary hyperparathyroidism]

Primary hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed with increasing incidence. Many patients are misinterpreted as being asymptomatic, but they do indeed suffer from a broad variety of non-specific symptoms. Investigations show that patients with primary hyperparathyroidism may be lethargic, apathic, demented and depressed. Many suffer from bone and joint pain. Surgical treatment can be done with few complications and a high cure rate, resulting in reversal of symptoms. Since symptoms do not correlate with S-Ca++ or S-parathyroid hormone and since the symptoms can be attributed to many other causes, we need more research to find those patients, who will benefit from surgical treatment.