Endocrine Abstracts

Vitamin D deficiency seems to be more prevalent in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) than in general population. This association has many clinical and therapeutic implications.

The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status of patients with PHPT and to describe the clinical presentation of the disease when vitamin D deficiency is associated.

Methods: We studied in a retrospective manner, the case of seven patients (three men and four women) admitted to our department during the year 2011, for PHPT. During their hospitalization, serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) were measured concomitantly. A bone densitometry was performed for each patient.

Results: The mean age of our patients was 60.8±7.8 years. Bone pain revealed the disease in three cases. The mean serum level of calcium was 2.9±0.4 mmol/l. Mean PTH concentration was 384.2±378.7 pg/ml. The mean serum level of 25OHD was 7.3±3.3 μg/l. All the patients had vitamin D deficiency (25OHD<15μg/l). A single adenoma was localized in four patients with a mean size of 35±4.5 mm. Bone densitometry revealed osteoporosis in one patient, osteopenia in 4 patients and was normal in two patients. Renal complications were present in three patients. Other complications (cardiovascular, neuropsychological and digestive complications) were found in three patients.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is very common in patients with PHPT. Thus, the assessment of vitamin D status should be done in all these patients because the disease seems to be more severe when vitamin D deficiency coexists and the risk of post operative hypocalcemia and hungry bone syndrome is higher.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.