[Hyperparathyroidism: modern state of the problem]

In the article, a review of the published literature is presented concerning the problem of primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Mechanisms are analyzed of secondary hyperparathyroidism in different pathological conditions. Improvements in methods for making diagnosis and an extensive application to practical use in clinical settings of such techniques as computerized tomography, bone densitometry, enzyme immunoassays to measure the parathyroid hormone, and other methods allowed the estimation of the prevalence of the condition under consideration and permitted raising a question as to a timely early diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. In more than 50% of patients the above condition runs an asymptometic course being associated with the affection of the osseous system only, for which reason the earliest and most specific symptom diagnosable in hyperparathyroidism is considered to be osteoporosis.