A comparison of parathyroid-gland function in haemodialysis patients with different forms of renal osteodystrophy

Parathyroid function was studied in three different histological forms of renal osteodystrophy: osteitis fibrosa (OF), low-turnover aluminium-associated bone disease (LTAABD), and aplastic bone disease without aluminium (ABD). Parathyroid function was determined by the evaluation of the sigmoidal parathyroid hormone-(PTH)-calcium curve, which was obtained by the performance of a reduced calcium and an increased calcium haemodialysis. Parameters of the sigmoidal PTH-calcium curve evaluated included maximally stimulated (PTHMax) and inhibited (PTHMin) PTH, the set point of calcium for PTH (ICA50), defined as the ionised calcium concentration at which PTHMax was reduced by 50%, the ratio of basal PTH to maximally stimulated PTH (PTHBase:PTHMax), the ionised calcium concentration at which basal (ICABase), maximally stimulated (ICAMax), and maximally inhibited (ICAMin) PTH values were observed, and the slope of the PTH-calcium curve. Both PTHMax and PTHMin were greater in OF than the other two groups (P less than 0.02). The ratio of basal to maximally stimulated PTH was greater (P less than 0.02) in OF (61 +/- 7%) than LTAABD (33 +/- 5%) and ABD (36 +/- 7%). The ICA50 and the ICAMax were greater (P less than 0.03) in OF than the other two groups; however, no differences were observed in the ICABase and ICAMin. The slope of the PTH-calcium curve (% maximal PTH), which should indicate the sensitivity of parathyroid cells, was greater in OF than LTAABD (P less than 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)