Permanent Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism Research Articles

How Long Does It Take to Regain Normocalcaemia in the Event of Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism? A Detailed Time Course Analysis.

Background: Postsurgical hypoparathyroidism (PH) is the most common side effect of bilateral thyroid resections. Data regarding the time course of recovery from PH are currently unavailable. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the time course of PH recovery and conditions associated with rapid recovery was conducted. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively documented data. Patients with biochemical signs of PH or need for calcium supplementation were followed-up for 12 months. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify covariates of early as opposed to late recovery from PH. Results: There were 1097 thyroid resections performed from 06/2015 to 07/2016 with n = 143 PH. Median recovery time was 8 weeks and six patients (1.1% of total thyroid resections) required calcium supplementation > 12 months. Recovery of PH within 4 and 12 weeks was characterized by high PTH levels on the first postoperative day (4 weeks: OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.20; 12 weeks: OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.01–1.16). Visualization of all PTGs emerged as an independent predictor of recovery within 12 months (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.01–4.93) and 24 weeks (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.08–6.69). Conclusion: In the setting of specialized high-volume endocrine surgery, permanent PH is rare. However, every second patient will require more than 2 months of continued medical surveillance. Early recovery was associated with only moderately decreased postsurgical PTH-levels. Successful late recovery appeared to be associated with the number of parathyroid glands visualized during surgery.

Calcium-Alkali Syndrome Associated with Hypoparathyroidism Following Total Thyroidectomy

Background: Patients with permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism, a complication of total thyroidectomy, often require high calcium supplementation with vitamin D to maintain serum calcium levels. The epidemiology of calcium-alkali syndrome (CAS) in patients with hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of hypercalcemia, renal impairment, metabolic alkalosis, and CAS in patients treated for presumed hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with neck cancers who underwent total thyroidectomy without parathyroid autotransplantation between January 2010 and October 2013 at our hospital were consecutively included. All patients received calcium lactate and alfacalcidol for postsurgical hypocalcemia. We defined hypercalcemia as a corrected serum calcium level (cCa) ≥10.5 mg/dL, metabolic alkalosis as a difference in serum sodium and serum chloride ([sNa-sCl]) ≥39 mEq/L, and renal impairment as a ≥50% increase in serum creatine and/or ≥35% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared to baseline. Results: cCa peaked (11.1 ± 1.5 mg/dL) at a median of 326 days (interquartile range 78–869) after surgery. At peak cCa, [sNa-sCl] was significantly higher (p < 0.01), and eGFR was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that at baseline. Fifteen patients (55.6%) had hypercalcemia, 19 (70.3%) had alkalosis, 12 (44.4%) had renal impairment, and 9 (33.3%) had CAS. Patients with CAS (mean age 67.1 ± 10.8 years) were older than those without CAS (56.7 ± 13.6 years, p = 0.06). The mean dose of alfacalcidol in the CAS group (3.1 ± 1.2 μg/day) was significantly larger than that in the non-CAS group (2.1 ± 1.0 μg/day, p = 0.03). Conclusions: This retrospective study reveals the high incidence of CAS in patients with hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Furthermore, these findings suggest that the serum calcium level, acid-base balance, and renal function should be closely monitored in patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism who receive large doses of active vitamin D.

Is it time to change the management of permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism?

Is it time to change the management of permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism?

Is it time to change the management of permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism?

Is it time to change the management of permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism?

Long-Term Treatment with Calcitriol in Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism Leads to Renal Function Decline.

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disease with insufficient parathyroid hormone levels. Replacing the missing hormone is not yet a standard therapy. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate if the usual therapy regimens of postsurgical hypoparathyroidism with calcitriol have a negative effect on renal function. We performed a chart analysis of patients who were seen in a tertiary care hospital in Brussels, Belgium. A total of 101 subjects were identified as patients with permanent post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, based on the hospital records of patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy between 1996 and 2016, while still being treated with calcitriol. Patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency and/or active malignancy were excluded. The cohort was predominantly female of Caucasian origin. Renal function was evaluated before and after surgery (with a maximum follow-up of 12 years), using the CKD-EPI equation. A multivariate linear regression model was used to correlate renal function decline with the duration of calcitriol therapy, while correcting for the mean calcium phosphate product and age. We found a statistically significant (p=0.027) relationship between the duration of calcitriol treatment and renal function decline at a rate of 1.06 ml/min/1.73 m2 per year of calcitriol therapy. Our study, although being retrospective, is the first one to demonstrate a relationship between the cumulative use of calcitriol therapy and renal function decline.

Postoperative Hypoparathyroidism in Patients After Total Thyroidectomy - Experience of a Tertiary Center in Romania.

Background: Post-surgical hypoparathyroidism (PoSH) is a common long-term complication after thyroid surgery. The reported median (range) incidence rates of temporary and permanent PoSH was 27% (19 - 38%) and 1% (0 - 3%) respectively. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the files of 552 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our surgery department between 2015- 2017 with the aim to assess the prevalence of PoSH and to identify patient and disease related factors associated with postoperative hypocalcemia. Results: 171 (30.97%) patients developed PoSH, 88.37% transient, 11.63% permanent. The median (IQR) duration of postoperative hypocalcemia was 60 (67.5) days. Preoperative biological parameters were similar in PoSH and the control group, except median (IQR) serum magnesium level that was significantly higher in PoSH group [2.04 (0.17) vs. 1.89 (0.28) mg/dl, p=0.005]. In the subgroup of patients with thyroid carcinoma the surgery duration was longer in PoSH patients compared to the control group [135 (60) vs. 110 (43) minutes, p=0.020]. In patients with PoSH, median post-operative serum calcium was significantly higher in patients with reported difficult surgery [8.2 (0.2) vs. 7.9 (0.6) mg/dl, p=0.043] and the mean serum calcium decrease was higher in patients with cervical neck dissection and lymphadenectomy (1.94 +-0.59 vs. 1.68 +-0.56 mg/dl, p=0.033). Conclusions: Our data show a high prevalence of PoSH that is likely to increase given the rising number of thyroid surgeries being performed. Further research is needed in order to better define this condition, to establish appropriate treatment and preventive measures.

When Parathyroidectomy Should Be Indicated or Postponed in Adolescents With MEN1-Related Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) is a rare inherited endocrine tumor syndrome principally affecting parathyroid glands, neuroendocrine tissues of the gastro-entero-pancreatic and thoracic tracts, and anterior pituitary, caused by germline inactivating mutations of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is usually the first clinical manifestation of the syndrome, normally manifesting during the third decade of life. Cases of affected children and adolescents have been described by the age of 5. Clinical characteristics and therapeutic management of MEN1 in adolescents have been described mainly by case reports. Only two studies on MEN1 patient series under the age of 22 years have recently been published. Given the scarcity of data and the lack of a consistent number of targeted studies, there are currently no specific guidelines available for children and adolescents with MEN1; diagnostic and therapeutic management is, thus, usually the same as for adult patients. Here, we report our experience with 19 adolescent MEN1 patients, developing MEN1-associated PHPT before the age of 20. Fourteen of them, manifesting hypercalcemic PHPT before the age of 20 underwent parathyroidectomy before the age of 25 to control calcemia. Parathyroid surgery restored normal calcemia in all the operated patients. No post-surgical nephrolithiasis has been reported after a mean of 12.0 ± 5.8 years of follow-up. Comparison between pre-surgical and post-surgical values of bone mineral density (BMD) in 2 patients evidenced an improvement of bone mass after parathyroid adenoma ablation. Two patients (14.28%) developed permanent post-surgical hypoparathyroidism.

Presentation of Hypoparathyroidism: Etiologies and Clinical Features.

Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, and symptoms of hypoparathyroidism may help to improve quality of life and long-term disease outcomes. This paper summarizes the results of the findings and recommendations of the Working Group on Presentation of Hypoparathyroidism. Experts convened in Florence, Italy, in May 2015 and evaluated the literature and recent data on the presentation and long-term outcomes of patients with hypoparathyroidism. The most frequent etiology is surgical removal or loss of viability of parathyroid glands. Despite precautions and expertise, about 20-30% of patients develop transient and 1-7% develop permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Autoimmune destruction is the main reason for nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism. Severe magnesium deficiency is an uncommon but correctable cause of hypoparathyroidism. Several genetic etiologies can result in the loss of parathyroid function or action causing isolated hypoparathyroidism or a complex syndrome with other symptoms apart from those of hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism. Neuromuscular signs or symptoms due to hypocalcemia are the main characteristics of the disease. Hyperphosphatemia can contribute to major long-term complications such as ectopic calcifications in the kidney, brain, eye, or vasculature. Bone turnover is decreased, and bone mass is increased. Reduced quality of life and higher risk of renal stones, renal calcifications, and renal failure are seen. The risk of seizures and silent or symptomatic calcifications of basal ganglia is also increased. Increased awareness of the etiology and presentation of the disease and new research efforts addressing specific questions formulated during the meeting should improve the diagnosis, care, and long-term outcome for patients.