Background: Few studies have reported changes of bone mineral density (BMD) after parathyroidectomy in patients with persistent hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation (3 HPT).
Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 14 patients who underwent successful parathyroidectomy for 3 HPT and who had available BMD data before and after parathyroidectomy.
Results: Median follow-up time was 26 months (IQR: 16.8-40.2). Serum calcium levels decreased significantly after parathyroidectomy (2.32 +/- 0.09 versus 2.66 +/- 0.16 mmol/l; p < 0.01), as did PTH levels (5.1 +/- 3.0 versus 27.8 +/- 23.7 pmol/l; p < 0.01). Nine patients (64%) had a steroid-free immunosuppression at follow-up. Mean increase in BMD was 9.5 +/- 8.0% for the spine and 9.5 +/- 7.9% for the hip (p < 0.01 for both sites). Patients with osteoporosis (T-score <or= 2.5) or osteopenia (T-score <or= 1) before parathyroidectomy had the biggest increase in BMD (10.7 +/- 7.7% in hip BMD and of 12.3 +/- 8.1% in spine BMD).
Conclusions: Parathyroidectomy is an efficient treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia in patients with 3 HPT.