Parathyroidectomy versus cinacalcet for tertiary hyperparathyroidism; a retrospective analysis

IntroductionTertiary hyperparathyroidism (tHPT), i.e., persistent HPT after kidney transplantation, affects 17-50% of transplant recipients. Treatment of tHPT is mandatory since persistently elevated PTH concentrations after KTx increase the risk of renal allograft dysfunction and osteoporosis. The introduction of cinacalcet in 2004 seemed to offer a medical treatment alternative to parathyroidectomy (PTx). However, the optimal management of tHPT remains unclear.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on patients receiving a kidney transplantation (KT) in two academic centers in the Netherlands. Thirty patients undergoing PTx within 3years of transplantation and 64 patients treated with cinacalcet 1year after transplantation for tHPT were included. Primary outcomes were serum calcium and PTH concentrations 1year after KT and after PTx.ResultsSerum calcium normalized in both the cinacalcet and the PTx patients. PTH concentrations remained above the upper limit of normal (median 22.0pmol/L) 1year after KT, but returned to within the normal range in the PTx group (median 3.7pmol/L). Side effects of cinacalcet were difficult to assess; minor complications occurred in three patients. Re-exploration due to persistent tHPT was performed in three (10%) patients.ConclusionIn patients with tHPT, cinacalcet normalizes serum calcium, but does not lead to a normalization of serum PTH concentrations. In contrast, PTx leads to a normalization of both serum calcium and PTH concentrations. These findings suggest that PTx is the treatment of choice for tHPT.