Normocalcemic Hyperparathyroidism: A Heterogeneous Disorder Often Misdiagnosed?

Background Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) was first described in 2008. It is defined as consistently elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels with normal serum calcium (sCa) concentration, after excluding secondary causes of PTH elevation. However, the exact definition and management strategy for NPHPT remain controversial. We retrospectively investigated the clinicopathological features and short-term outcomes of NPHPT patients. Methods A total of 280 patients who were surgically indicated for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) at the Yonsei Severance Medical Center between 2015 and 2019 were included. Patients were classified according to preoperative PTH, corrected sCa, and ionized calcium (iCa) levels as follows: typical primary hyperparathyroidism (TPHPT, elevated PTH, sCa, and iCa, n = 158) and NPHPT (elevated PTH, normal sCa, n = 122). Results NPHPT was commonly seen in younger individuals (aged < 50 years, P = 0.025); nephrolithiasis and bone fractures were common. Preoperative PTH level was higher in the TPHPT group ( P < 0.001). The NPHPT group had higher numbers of multiple parathyroid lesions ( P = 0.004) that were smaller ( P = 0.011). NPHPT patients were further divided into two subgroups according to iCa levels: the elevated (n = 95) and normal iCa (n = 27) groups. There was no significant difference between the two subgroups regarding symptoms and multiplicity of lesions. Conclusion We found that NPHPT may be a heterogeneous disease entity of PHPT with high rates of multi-gland disease, which appears to be biochemically milder but symptomatic. Intraoperative PTH monitoring might help increase the surgery success rate. Moreover, the short-term outcomes of NPHPT after surgery did not differ from that of TPHPT.

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“…Since sCa in PHPT patients often fluctuates, single measurement of sCa with upper-normal range can result in the misdiagnosis of NPHPT. 28 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparisons Between Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Typical Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Choi

Hong

et al. 2022

J Korean Med Sci

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“…Consequently, normocalcemic PHPT represents a diagnosis of exclusion and can only be considered following a careful evaluation of causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism (Fig. 2) (30).…”

Section: Q2 What Is Normocalcemic Phpt?mentioning

confidence: 99%

European expert consensus on practical management of specific aspects of parathyroid disorders in adults and in pregnancy: recommendations of the ESE Educational Program of Parathyroid Disorders (PARAT 2021)

Bollerslev

Rejnmark

Zahn

et al. 2022

European Journal of Endocrinology

122

125

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This European expert consensus statement provides recommendations for the diagnosis and management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults (HypoPT), and parathyroid disorders in relation to pregnancy and lactation. Specified areas of interest and unmet needs identified by experts at the second ESE Educational Program of Parathyroid Disorders (PARAT) in 2019, were discussed during two virtual workshops in 2021, and subsequently developed by working groups with interest in the specified areas. PHPT is a common endocrine disease. However, its differential diagnosing to familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), the definition and clinical course of normocalcemic PHPT, and the optimal management of its recurrence after surgery represent areas of uncertainty requiring clarifications. HypoPT is an orphan disease characterized by low calcium concentrations due to insufficient PTH secretion, most often secondary to neck surgery. Prevention and prediction of surgical injury to the parathyroid glands are essential to limit the disease-related burden. Long-term treatment modalities including the place for PTH replacement therapy and the optimal biochemical monitoring and imaging surveillance for complications to treatment in chronic HypoPT, need to be refined. The physiological changes in calcium metabolism occurring during pregnancy and lactation modify the clinical presentation and management of parathyroid disorders in these periods of life. Modern interdisciplinary approaches to PHPT and HypoPT in pregnant and lactating women and their newborns children are proposed. The recommendations on clinical management presented here will serve as background for further educational material aimed for a broader clinical audience, and were developed with focus on endocrinologists in training.

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“…Further studies investigating alterations in PTH following vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D-deficient stone-forming populations would be beneficial [23]. Normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism may be linked to renal stone disease and therefore, in individuals with recurrent nephrolithiasis or at high risk of future stone disease, serum PTH measurement may be a useful component of a full metabolic assessment [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utility of blood tests in screening for metabolic disorders in kidney stone disease

et al. 2020

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To determine the clinical utility of blood tests as a screening tool for metabolic abnormalities in patients with kidney stone disease. Subjects and MethodsClinical and biochemical data from 709 patients attending the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for assessment and treatment of kidney stones were prospectively collected between April 2011 and February 2017. Data were analysed to determine the utility of serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), urate, chloride, bicarbonate, potassium and phosphate assays in screening for primary hyperparathyroidism, normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism, hyperuricosuria, distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and hypercalciuria. ResultsAn elevated serum calcium level was detected in 2.3% of patients. Further investigations prompted by this finding resulted in a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism in 0.2% of men and 4.6% of women for whom serum calcium was recorded. An elevated serum PTH level in the absence of hypercalcaemia was detected in 15.1% of patients. Of these patients, 74.6% were vitamin D-insufficient; no patients were diagnosed with normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism. Hyperuricosuria was present in 21.6% of patients and hypercalciuria in 47.1%. Hyperuricaemia was not associated with hyperuricosuria, nor was hypophosphataemia associated with hypercalciuria. No patient was highlighted as being at risk of dRTA using serum chloride and bicarbonate as screening tests. ConclusionThis study indicates that individuals presenting with renal calculi should undergo metabolic screening with a serum calcium measurement alone. Use of additional blood tests to screen for metabolic disorders is not cost-effective and may provide false reassurance that metabolic abnormalities are not present. A full metabolic assessment with 24-h urine collection should be undertaken in recurrent stone formers and in those at high risk of future stone disease to identify potentially treatable metabolic abnormalities.

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Normocalcemic Hyperparathyroidism: A Heterogeneous Disorder Often Misdiagnosed?

Cited by 36 publications

References 67 publications

Comparisons Between Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Typical Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Comparisons Between Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Typical Primary Hyperparathyroidism

European expert consensus on practical management of specific aspects of parathyroid disorders in adults and in pregnancy: recommendations of the ESE Educational Program of Parathyroid Disorders (PARAT 2021)

Utility of blood tests in screening for metabolic disorders in kidney stone disease

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