[Asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism. An indication for surgery?]

From 1965 to 1985, 412 patients were operated on for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Of these, 35 (8.7%) were without specific symptoms and findings. The follow-up investigations after six months to 14 years (median: 31 months) revealed a normalization of the preoperative pathological parameters of alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, creatinine and hypertension in the majority of patients apart from the improvement of their general condition. All patients were normocalcemic. According to these results, the indication for early surgical therapy of the asymptomatic pHPT is to be advocated in order to avoid long-term complications.