Effect of parathyroidectomy on renal stone recurrence

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is routinely performed in hypercalciuric renal stone patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). However, some data indicate a persistent stone activity following PTX, raising the issue of the link between PHPT and stone disease. We performed an observational study on 30 renal stone patients diagnosed with PHPT. Patients were selected among 1448 hypercalciuric patients referred in our department for a diagnostic evaluation. Patients with no parathyroid surgery or any biological follow-up were excluded. Clinical and biological data (including 24-h urine collection and a calcium load test) were collected before and within 12 months following surgery. Stone recurrence was evaluated by direct phone contact (median 43 months). Comparison of biological data before and after surgery showed a significant decrease of ionized calcium and serum parathyroid hormone after PTX. All stones contained calcium-dependent species such as carbapatite, brushite or dihydrate calcium oxalate. Urine saturation indexes and calciuria significantly decreased after surgery (from 9.9 to 5.9 mmol/d, p < 0.0001), but a persistent hypercalciuria was detected in 47% of patients. The other stone risk factors including diuresis stayed similar. Stone activity that was increasing (from 0.20-0.30 to 0.50-0.75/year) the 2 years before PTX, significantly decreased after surgery [0.05-0.15/year (p < 0.001)]. PTX in calcium-dependent renal stone formers with PHPT significantly decreases both stone recurrence and urine saturation indexes. However, PTX unmasked an underlying renal stone disease related to idiopathic hypercalciuria in half of patients with a remaining stone activity, testifying the need for patient's follow-up to prevent stone recurrence.