The relationship between adenoma weight and intact (1-84) parathyroid hormone level in primary hyperparathyroidism

The relationship between preoperative serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium, and the weight of parathyroid adenoma has been investigated in 44 patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism due to single gland disease. There was no significant correlation between preoperative serum calcium and either intact PTH concentration or adenoma weight (r = 0.465 and 0.381, respectively). Although there was a significant correlation between PTH concentration and adenoma weight (r = 0.850, p less than 0.0005), this correlation was lost when two unusually heavy adenomas weighing 10.98 and 15.23 g were removed from the analysis. Clearly, a preoperative direct prediction of gland weight determined from PTH level was not possible. Patients with adenomata heavier than 750 mg had a significantly lower circulating PTH level per mg of adenoma than patients with glands lighter than 750 mg. PTH secretion in vitro in low calcium medium by adenoma cells from glands weighing less than 1 g was higher than secretion by cells from adenomas heavier than 1 g. Larger parathyroid adenomata appear to secrete less PTH per unit weight in vivo and per unit cell in vitro under conditions of maximal stimulation.