Comparative analysis of surgical versus medical treatment in non-localized primary hyperparathyroidism: renal and skeletal outcomes.

Abstract

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) presents diverse phenotypic variations. Few studies have investigated potential peculiarities of non-localized PHPT. This retrospective study aimed to compare renal and skeletal outcomes in patients with non-localized PHPT subjected to medical versus surgical treatment. Patients with non-localized PHPT from two European Tertiary Centers were divided into Group A (medical treatment, 42 patients) and Group B (Surgery, 45 patients). Biochemical markers, renal function, and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed at baseline and 18-24 months post-treatment. At initial univariate analysis, Student's t test, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon test, and Friedman's non-parametric test were utilized. The two groups displayed significant differences in age and vitamin D levels. Group B exhibited notable post-operative reductions in serum calcium (p value < 0.00001, versus p < 0.001 for group A), PTH (p < 0.00001 versus 0.078 for group A), and calciuria (p < 0.05 versus 0.3657 for group A). Surgical intervention yielded significant improvements in BMD (group B: p < 0.0001; group A: p = 0.3359) at femoral and lumbar sites, with no post-treatment fractures in Group B, contrasting with Group A (4 new fractures). The GFR of group A showed a statistically non-significant change with a p value of 0.631. Conversely, for the group B, the GFR displayed a statistically significant change (p < 0.001.). Surgical intervention in non-localized PHPT showcased distinct advantages in normalizing calcemia and PTH levels and improving skeletal metabolism. Although few significant differences in renal function were observed post-surgery, the apparent advantage of group B should be interpreted taking into account the different average ages of the two cohorts.