Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (37)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by LJUTIC, D.
Right arrow Articles by OWEN, W.J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by LJUTIC, D.
Right arrow Articles by OWEN, W.J.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Q J Med 1994; 87: 685-692
© 1994 Association of Physicians


research-article

Long-term follow-up after total parathyroidectomy without parathyroid reimplantation in chronic renal failure

D. LJUTIC*, J.S. CAMERON, C.S. OGG, C. TURNER1, J.A. HICKS and W.J. OWEN2

From the Departments of Renal Medicine London, UK 1From the Departments of Paediatrics, UMDS, Guy's Hospital London, UK 2From the Departments of Surgery, UMDS, Guy's Hospital London, UK

Address correspondence to Professor J.S. Cameron, Clinical Science Laboratories, 17th Floor Guy's Tower, London SE1 9RT

Received 25 May 1994 Accepted for publication 9 June 1994.

Forty-three patients with secondary or autonomous hyperparathyroidism complicating chronic renal failure (CRF) underwent total parathyroidectomy (PTX) (follow-up 2–18 years, mean 8.7 years). Five were on conservative treatment for CRF, 35 on regular dialysis, and only three had a functioning allograft. At PTX, the most frequent findings were uncontrollable hypercalcaemia, musculo-skeletal pain, radiographic changes in the phalanges, and raised plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration. Pre-operatively, all patients were loaded with dihydrotachysterol or 1-{alpha}-OH cholecalciferol. Postoperatively, they were maintained on tapering doses of the same drugs and, briefly, oral calcium supplements. Five glands were identified and removed in two patients, four in 35 patients, three in three patients and only two in one patient. All had changes of hyperplasia and adenoma formation, except for one with a parathyroid carcinoma. Prompt symptomatic and radiographic improvement occurred, with normalization of plasma calcium and alkaline phosphatase. Postoperative PTH levels were available in 33 patients (23 by intact PTH assay): they were persistently high in 10/33 (2/23 intact); normal in seven (6 intact); low in 11 (3 intact), and undetectable in four (3 intact). Thus, PTX was incomplete in the majority of patients. Following transplantation, 3/20 (3/18 intact) patients still had detectable PTH. Only one patient developed symptomatic recurrent parathyroid disease requiring re-operation, and complications were few. Small dosages of vitamin D continue to be required, but not calcium supplementation, and no clinical effects of possible adynamic bone have been noted. At later renal transplantation in 27 patients, an easily treatable, uncomplicated hypocalcaemia was noted in 33%. Up to 18 years after operation (median 9 years) almost all patients are well, without clinical or radiographic bone disease. ‘Total’ PTX seems preferable to alternative surgical approaches, including reimplantation of parathyroid tissue, because residual tissue is usually left behind.


* Present address: Clinical Hospital ‘Firule’, Split, Croatia


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Arch SurgHome page
N. Rayes, D. Seehofer, R. Schindler, P. Reinke, A. Kahl, F. Ulrich, P. Neuhaus, and N. C. Nussler
Long-term Results of Subtotal vs Total Parathyroidectomy Without Autotransplantation in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Arch Surg, August 1, 2008; 143(8): 756 - 761.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch SurgHome page
M. Echenique-Elizondo, F. J. Diaz-Aguirregoitia, J. A. Amondarain, and F. Vidaur
Parathyroid Graft Function After Presternal Subcutaneous Autotransplantation for Renal Hyperparathyroidism
Arch Surg, January 1, 2006; 141(1): 33 - 38.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.