Occult urolithiasis in asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism

Recent international guidelines suggest renal imaging to detect occult urolithiasis in all patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but data regarding their prevalence and associated risk factors are limited. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for occult urolithiasis.

Cross-sectional analysis of 96 asymptomatic PHPT patients from a university hospital in the United States with and without occult nephrolithiasis.

Occult urolithiasis was identified in 21% of patients. Stone formers had 47% higher 24-hour urinary calcium excretion (p = 0.002). Although available in only a subset of patients (n = 28), activated vitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D] was 29% higher (p = 0.02) in stone formers. There was no difference in demographics, BMI, calcium or vitamin D intake, other biochemistries, renal function, BMD, or fractures. Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that urinary calcium excretion and 1,25(OH)₂D had an area under the curve of 0.724 (p = 0.003) and 0.750 (p = 0.04), respectively. A urinary calcium threshold of >211mg/day provided a sensitivity of 84.2% and a specificity of 55.3% while a 1,25(OH)₂D threshold of >91pg/mL provided a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 90.0% respectively for the presence of stones.

Occult urolithiasis is present in about one-fifth of patients with asymptomatic PHPT and is associated with higher urinary calcium and 1,25(OH)₂D. Given that most patients will not have occult urolithiasis, targeted imaging in those most likely to have occult stones rather than screening all asymptomatic PHPT patients may be useful. The higher sensitivity of urinary calcium versus 1,25(OH)₂D suggests screening those with higher urinary calcium may be an appropriate approach.