Parathyroid Hormone Disturbances in Postmenopausal Women with Distal Forearm Fracture

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Bone Metabolism
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder linked to adverse effects like osteoporosis.
• Undiagnosed PHPT in women, especially postmenopausal ones, poses significant health risks due to asymptomatic or vague symptoms.
• Early identification of PHPT is critical for timely intervention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of PHPT in postmenopausal women presenting with a distal forearm fracture.
• To assess the diagnostic yield of screening for PHPT in this specific patient group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 161 postmenopausal women with distal forearm fractures.
• Biochemical analyses included serum calcium, ionized calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D.
• PHPT diagnosis was based on established clinical and biochemical criteria.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of PHPT among these women was 6.8%, significantly higher than the general population prevalence of 3.4%.
• Elevated PTH levels were observed in 20% of the participants.
• Of the diagnosed cases, 6 had classical PHPT and 5 had mild PHPT.

Conclusions:

• Screening postmenopausal women with low-energy distal forearm fractures effectively identifies a substantial number with parathyroid disturbances.
• Evaluating parathyroid hormone and calcium status in this population is a beneficial diagnostic strategy.
• This approach aids in the early detection of PHPT, potentially mitigating long-term complications.