Parathyroid hormone levels after parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism

The parathormone level after parathyroidectomy in dialysis patients are of interest. Low levels may require cryopreserved tissue implantation; however, the resection is necessary in case of recurrence. We analyzed post parathyroidectomy parathormone levels in renal hyperparathyroidism.

Prospective observation of postoperative parathormone levels over defined periods in a cohort of dialysis patients that underwent total parathyroidectomy and immediate forearm autograft from 2008 to 2010, at a single tertiary care hospital.

Of 33 patients, parathormone levels until 36 months could be divided into four patterns. Patients with stable function (Pattern 1) show relatively constant levels after two months (67% of the cases). Early function and later failure (Pattern 2) were an initial function with marked parathormone reduction before one year (18%). Graft recurrence (Pattern 3) showed a progressive increase of parathormone in four cases (12%). Complete graft failure (Pattern 4) was a nonfunctioning implant at any period, which was observed in one patient (3%). Parathormone levels of Pattern 3 became statistically different of Pattern 1 at 36 months.

Patients that underwent the total parathyroidectomy and autograft present four different graft function patterns with a possible varied therapeutic management.