Objective: To study the reliability and applicability of a rapid parathormone (PTH) test as predictor of successful surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism.
Design: Prospective.
Method: All 35 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism in the University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands, in august 1997-august 1998, were tested just prior to surgery, and immediately following adenomectomy. The rapid PTH test consisted of a modification of the computerized immunometric detection by chemoluminescence. The decrease of serum PTH as estimated with the rapid test was correlated with surgical findings as well as postoperative serum calcium levels. In the first 25 patients (group A) the reliability of the test was investigated. In the next 10 patients (group B) the PTH test results were allowed to have implications for surgical management, i.e. an insufficient (< 50%) decrease of serum PTH following adenomectomy resulted in immediate re-exploration.
Results: The 35 patients, 22 women and 13 men, had a median age of 58 years (range: 22-80). The results obtained with our rapid PTH test correlated fully with both conventional PTH measurement techniques and postoperative serum calcium levels. In group A 21/25 patients showed adequate (> 50%) decrease of their serum PTH levels; the 4 patients without such decrease were the ones displaying persistent postoperative hypercalcaemia. In group B 9/10 patients had adequate PTH decrease immediately following adenomectomy, while in one patient this was only attained after further exploration and excision of a second adenoma. No false-positive or false-negative measurements were encountered.
Conclusion: The rapid PTH test used is a reliable predictor of successful adenomectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism, also in minimally invasive surgery.