Recurrent renal hyperparathyroidism and DNA analysis of autografted parathyroid tissue

In spite of recent therapeutic advances, severe overt secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure necessitates parathyroidectomy and recurrent hyperparathyroidism is one of the most significant problems in this patient population. In the present study, the incidence of recurrent hyperparathyroidism was evaluated in relation to the histopathological features. Image cytometric DNA analysis was performed to estimate the proliferative potential of parathyroid tissue. The study comprised 248 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy from 1973 to 1991. The frequency of recurrent hyperparathyroidism after subtotal parathyroidectomy was 4 (21.1%) of 19 patients, the rate of graft-dependent recurrence after removal of residual parathyroid tissue with forearm autograft was 2 (50%) of 4 patients. The frequency of graft-dependent recurrence after total parathyroidectomy with forearm autograft was 16 (7.5%) of 212 patients. The frequency of recurrence was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) when nodular hyperplastic parathyroid tissue was autografted (17 of 68 patients, 25%) than when diffuse-hyperplastic tissue was grafted (1 of 105 patients, less than 1%). All 58 specimens subjected to image cytometric DNA analysis showed a diploid nuclear pattern cytometrically. However, the relative number of scattered cells that displayed cytometric nuclear DNA values outside the main diploid histogram peak was significantly greater (p less than 0.01) in nodular hyperplastic tissue before being autografted and in parathyroid tissue removed at re-operation performed for recurrence than in diffuse hyperplastic tissue. These clinical findings and results of DNA analysis clearly indicated that nodular hyperplastic parathyroid tissue has a higher growth potential, and it is concluded that to prevent graft-dependent recurrence, the nodular type of hyperplastic tissue should not be autografted.