Effect of thyrotoxicosis and its treatment on mineral and bone metabolism

Mineral metabolism and bone histomorphometric status were evaluated in 31 hyperthyroid patients (HT) without clinical or radiological bone disease, both before and after treatment of hyperthyroidism. Blood and urine biochemical data were compared with those obtained in sex and age-matched controls. Iliac bone biopsies were available from 12 untreated HT and from 6 of them after treatment for analysis of trabecular bone. Mean plasma calcium was increased in HT but true hypercalcemia was seen in only one case and mean plasma immunoreactive parathormone (iPTH) was normal. Urine calcium excretion was markedly increased, especially in the fasting state. Biochemical parameters decreased after treatment, except for serum alkaline phosphatase and iPTH that, respectively, remained high and increased. Untreated state was characterized by an hyperremodelling state with enhanced activities of bone formation and bone resorption. Bone mineralization was normal. The mineral and bone changes were related to serum thyroid hormone levels. After treatment, the extent of formation surfaces still increased. The fact that, even though calcium metabolism abnormalities were corrected, active resorption surfaces did not change, suggests that trabecular osteoclastic resorption is not an important cause of mobilization of bone calcium to extracellular fluids in HT.