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Updated: Aug 3, 2025
Generation of Hypoparathyroid Rats via Carbon-Nanoparticle-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
Published on: July 14, 2023
Estimated Effect of Parathyroidectomy on Long-Term Kidney Function in Adults With Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Carolyn D Seib1, Calyani Ganesan2, Adam Furst3
1Stanford-Surgery Policy Improvement Research and Education Center (S-SPIRE), Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine; Division of General Surgery, Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System; and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California (C.D.S.).
Background:
Multidisciplinary guidelines recommend parathyroidectomy to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Limited data address the effect of parathyroidectomy on long-term kidney function.
Objective:
To compare the incidence of a sustained decline in eGFR of at least 50% among patients with PHPT treated with parathyroidectomy versus nonoperative management.
Design:
Target trial emulation was done using observational data from adults with PHPT, using an extended Cox model with time-varying inverse probability weighting.
Setting:
Veterans Health Administration.
Patients:
Patients with a new biochemical diagnosis of PHPT in 2000 to 2019.
Measurements:
Sustained decline of at least 50% from pretreatment eGFR.
Results:
Among 43 697 patients with PHPT (mean age, 66.8 years), 2928 (6.7%) had a decline of at least 50% in eGFR over a median follow-up of 4.9 years. The weighted cumulative incidence of eGFR decline was 5.1% at 5 years and 10.8% at 10 years in patients managed with parathyroidectomy, compared with 5.1% and 12.0%, respectively, in those managed nonoperatively. The adjusted hazard of eGFR decline did not differ between parathyroidectomy and nonoperative management (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98 [95% CI, 0.82 to 1.16]). Subgroup analyses found no heterogeneity of treatment effect based on pretreatment kidney function. Parathyroidectomy was associated with a reduced hazard of the primary outcome among patients younger than 60 years (HR, 0.75 [CI, 0.59 to 0.93]) that was not evident among those aged 60 years or older (HR, 1.08 [CI, 0.87 to 1.34]).
Limitation:
Analyses were done in a predominantly male cohort using observational data.
Conclusion:
Parathyroidectomy had no effect on long-term kidney function in older adults with PHPT. Potential benefits related to kidney function should not be the primary consideration for PHPT treatment decisions.
Primary Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging.
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