Lipid fractions in primary hyperparathyroidism before and after surgical cure

A number of previous studies has suggested that PTH may possess a hyperlipimic property. We determined various lipid fractions in 24 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism before and 1-3 months after surgical cure. The mean values for serum total cholesterol, triglycerides. LDL-Chol, VLDL-Chol and HDL-Chol did not change significantly with definitive correction of hyperparathyroidism. The mean values for all lipid fractions were comparable to those of the age- and and sex-matched normal control group except for HDL-Chol which was significantly lower in the hyperparathyroid group both before and after definitive cure of hyperparathyroidism. Only one patient with combined elevation of serum triglycerides and cholesterol exhibited normalization of the lipid levels after surgery. Two other patients with hypertriglyceridaemia failed to show any reduction in their triglyceride levels after correction of their hyperparathyroidism. Our data suggest that longstanding elevation of PTH to the extent seen in primary hyperparathyroidism and in the absence of predisposing conditions does not increase serum lipids in human.