Seasonal changes of parathyroid hormone in chronic hemodialysis patients

We investigated various factors related to secondary hyperparathyroidism among hemodialysis patients. Subjects were 26 patients (20 men and 6 women) ranging in age from 24 to 75, treated at an ordinary hemodialysis center throughout the year 1991. The serum inorganic phosphate level and serum intact PTH level varied greatly from 2.5 to 12.5 mg/dl and from 10 to 1,102 pg/ml (normal range, 10-60 pg/ml), respectively. All patients were classified according to the serum intact PTH level into two groups: those with less than 120 pg/ml (Group I) and those with 120 pg/ml or more (Group II). The patients in Group I responded well to hemodialysis and drug therapy, but those in Group II were likely to have secondary hyperparathyroidism. In all patients in Group II, the PTH level increased markedly in the summer. This may be attributed to insufficient ingestion of calcium, vitamins, and other nutrients due to loss of appetite.