Survival after parathyroidectomy in chronic hemodialysis patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism

The Effects of Parathyroidectomy vs Medical Treatments for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients undergoing dialysis is debated, with uncontrolled parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels becoming more common despite the expanded use of medical treatments like cinacalcet. This study examines the clinical benefits of parathyroidectomy vs medical treatment in reducing mortality and managing key laboratory parameters in patients undergoing dialysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for cohort studies or randomized controlled trials published before August 18, 2023. We included studies with comparative arms, specifically medical treatment vs surgical intervention. Patients with a history of kidney transplant were excluded. Outcomes were analyzed using hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality and weighted mean differences (WMD) for laboratory parameters.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies involving 24 398 patients were analyzed. The pooled meta-analysis has shown a significant reduction in all-cause (HR, 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.61) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.84) for parathyroidectomy vs medical treatments. Subgroup analysis showed that parathyroidectomy was associated with a greater reduction in mortality in patients with a PTH level over 585 pg/mL (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.24-0.58). No mortality difference was found when all patients in the medical group received cinacalcet alongside standard medical treatment (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.49-2.11). Parathyroidectomy also led to a larger decrease in PTH (WMD, 1078 pg/mL; 95% CI, 587-1569), calcium (WMD, 0.86 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.43-1.28), and phosphate (WMD, 0.74 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.32-1.16).

CONCLUSION

Parathyroidectomy may offer a survival advantage compared to medical management in patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A nomogram prediction model for hungry bone syndrome in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) after parathyroidectomy (PTX) is a serious complication, which can lead to diarrhea, convulsion, arrhythmia and even death. This study was aimed to determine the risk factors for HBS after PTX in dialysis patients with SHPT and construct a nomogram prediction model to predict the incidence of postoperative complications.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected from 80 maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with SHPT who received total PTX in the Second Hospital of Jilin University from January 2018 to September 2021. In line with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totally 75 patients were finally enrolled for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups for retrospective analysis according to the severity of postoperative HBS, including HBS group and non-HBS (N-HBS) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for postoperative HBS. Afterwards, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted based on the statistical analysis results, aiming to compare the prediction effects of different predicting factors. Finally, the nomogram was established to evaluate the occurrence probability of postoperative complications predicted by the risk factors.

RESULTS

Among the 75 patients, 32 had HBS (HBS group), while 43 did not have HBS (N-HBS group). Univariate analysis results indicated that, the preoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in HBS group were significantly higher than those in N-HBS group, while preoperative hemoglobin and preoperative albumin (Alb) levels were significantly lower than those in N-HBS group. As discovered by multivariate logistic regression analysis, preoperative iPTH (OR = 1.111, P = 0.029) and ALP (OR = 1.010, P < 0.001) were the independent risk factors for postoperative HBS. ROC curve analysis suggested that the area under the curve (AUC) values of these two indicators were 0.873 and 0.926, respectively (P < 0.0001). Subsequently, the nomogram model for predicting HBS was constructed. The model verification results indicated that the predicted values were basically consistent with the measured values, with the C-index of 0.943 (95% CI 0.892-0.994). Besides, the calibration curve was consistent with the ideal curve, demonstrating the favorable accuracy and discrimination of the model.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative iPTH and preoperative ALP are the risk factors for postoperative HBS, which can be used to guide the early clinical intervention.

Effect of calcium supplementation on severe hypocalcemia in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

Severe hypocalcemia (SH) is a dreaded complication of total parathyroidectomy (TPTX) without auto-transplantation.

AIM

To compare conventional and preventive calcium supplementation (CS) regimens in terms of SH occurrence after TPTX.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent TPTX between January 2015 and May 2018 at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. From January 2015 to May 2016, conventional CS was performed in patients who underwent TPTX, with calcium amounts adjusted according to postoperative serum calcium levels. From October 2016 to May 2018, preventive CS was performed according to preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. The patients were defined as low-risk (ALP < 500 U/L) and high-risk (ALP > 500 U/L) for SH. All preoperative blood samples were collected in the fasting state on the day before surgery. Postoperative blood samples were obtained at 6-7 AM from the first postoperative day.

RESULTS

A total of 271 patients were included. These patients were 47.7 ± 11.1 years old, and 57.6% were male. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.9 ± 3.8 kg/m². There were no significant differences in sex, age, BMI, preoperative ALP, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus ratio, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) between the two CS groups. Compared with conventional CS, preventive CS led to lower occurrence rates of hypocalcemia within 48 h (46.0% vs 74.5%, P < 0.001) and SH (31.7% vs 64.1%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative iPTH levels [odds ratio (OR) = 1.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000-1.001, P = 0.009), preoperative ALP amounts (OR = 1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003, P = 0.002), preoperative serum phosphorus levels (OR = 8.729, 95%CI: 1.518-50.216, P = 0.015) and preventive CS (OR = 0.132, 95%CI: 0.067-0.261, P < 0.001) were independently associated with SH. In patients with preoperative ALP ≥ 500 U/L, only preventive CS (OR = 0.147, 95%CI: 0.038-0.562. P = 0.005) was independently associated with SH.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that preventive CS could reduce the occurrence of SH, indicating its critical value for hypocalcemia after TPTX.

Risk factors for hypocalcemia in dialysis patients with refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy: a meta-analysis

Objective

Hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy (PTX) results in tetany, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmia, and even sudden death. However, a meta-analysis or systematic evaluation of risk factors with the occurrence and development of hypocalcemia in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) after PTX has never been performed.

Methods

A thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE, was performed to retrieve relevant studies from database inception to June 2021. Quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 16.0 were used for meta-analysis. The random-effects model was adopted to calculate the 95% CIs (I²> 50% or p < 0.05) of the combined effect size and the corresponding homogeneous data. Otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used.

Results

Thirteen studies including 2990 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the present meta-analysis. The overall quality of the enrolled studies had a score of >7 points. Risk factors significantly related to hypocalcemia in patients with SHPT after PTX were preoperative serum calcium (OR 0.19, 95%CI 0.11–0.31), preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02), and preoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (OR 1.38, 95%CI 1.20–1.58). Meanwhile, age (OR 0.97, 95%CI 0.87–1.10) was not significantly correlated with hypocalcemia after PTX.

Conclusions

Based on the current evidence, preoperative serum calcium, preoperative ALP, and preoperative iPTH were significant predictors of hypocalcemia in patients with SHPT after PTX. More attention should be given to patients with these risk factors for the prevention of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Meta-Analysis of Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Cocaine Addiction

BACKGROUND

Previous voxel-based morphometric (VBM) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown changes in brain structure and function in cocaine addiction (CD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). However, the results of these studies are poorly reproducible, and it is unclear whether there are common and specific neuroimaging changes. This meta-analysis study aimed to identify structural, functional, and multimodal abnormalities in CD patients.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for VBM and task-state fMRI studies performed in CD patients between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021, using the SEED-BASE d MAP software package to perform two independent meta-groups of functional neural activation and gray matter volume, respectively. Analysis, followed by multimodal analysis to uncover structural, functional, and multimodal abnormalities between CD and HC.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 14 CD fMRI studies (400 CD patients and 387 HCs) and 11 CD VBM studies (368 CD patients and 387 controls). Structurally, VBM analysis revealed significantly lower gray matter volumes in the right superior temporal gyrus, right insula, and right retrocentral gyrus than in the HC. On the other hand, the right inferior parietal gyrus increased in gray matter (GM) volume in CD patients. Functionally, fMRI analysis revealed activation in the right temporal pole, right insula, and right parahippocampal gyrus. In the right inferior parietal gyrus, the left inferior parietal gyrus, the left middle occipital gyrus, and the right middle frontal gyrus, the degree of activation was lower.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed that CD patients had significant brain GM and neural changes compared with normal controls. Furthermore, multi-domain assessments capture different aspects of neuronal alterations in CD, which may help develop effective interventions for specific functions.

A short-term non-randomized controlled study of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation and parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

To compare the short-term clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) and parathyroidectomy (PTX) for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism(SHPT).

METHODS

In a prospective multi-center study, we compared the outcomes of MWA and PTX for severe SHPT. The outcome measures were case rate of successful treatment, improvement of clinical symptoms, incidence of complications, and differences in treatment parameters and costs between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 167 eligible patients were included in the study, of which 79 underwent MWA and 88 underwent PTX. There was no significant difference in rate of successful treatment between the MWA and PTX groups (χ²=2.299, p = 0.125). However, the MWA group showed significantly lower range of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) decrease than the PTX group (t=-2.352, p = 0.023). Postoperative clinical symptoms improved in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative hypocalcemia was significantly more common in the PTX group (p < 0.05). The operative time, incision and postoperative pain of the MWA group were significantly better than those of the PTX group (p < 0.05), while postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hematoma showed no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). The cost of MWA was significantly less than PTX (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Both MWA and PTX are effective and safe for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. PTX is more thorough and traumatic, while MWA is minimally invasive and postoperative iPTH is more consistent with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) recommendation.

Determinants of the intensity of uremic pruritus in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common and frustrating symptom in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). The majority of patients have mild to moderate itching of the skin, and a small percentage have severe itching, which seriously affects their quality of life and survival rate. However, little is known about factors that influence the intensity of itching in patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study on uremic pruritus in male and female patients receiving HD was conducted in September 2019. This study included 148 eligible patients who received HD at the Blood Purification Center of Xinchang County People's Hospital, Zhejiang Province, China from March 2019 to June 2019. We collected general data consisted of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), place of residence, educational level, diabetes mellitus status and duration of HD; as well as clinical, biochemical indicators, including serum calcium (Ca), serum phosphorus (P), serum albumin (ALB), haemoglobin (Hb), serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), pre-dialysis serum urea nitrogen (BUN), normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), urea nitrogen clearance index (KT/V), ferritin (FER) and pre-dialysis serum creatinine (sCR). We also assayed the inflammatory cytokine serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). The Five-Dimensional Itching Scale (5DIS) was used to evaluate the degree of skin itching (none, mild, moderate, or severe). We used multiple logistic regression to analyze influencing factors on the degree of skin itching in patients with UP.

RESULTS

Of the 148 patients, 60 had uremic pruritus (incidence rate, 40.54%). These included 22 cases of mild skin itching (14.86%), 30 of moderate skin itching (20.27%), and 8 of severe skin itching (5.41%). Compared with uremia patients without skin pruritus, patients with UP had higher levels of iPTH, Hb, BUN, nPCR, and hs-CRP. The composition ratio showed significant differences between urban and rural patients with different degrees of skin itching (P = 0.017); moreover, the difference of iPTH and hs-CRP levels were statistically significant (P = 0.009 and < 0.001, respectively). Using no itching as a reference, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that as hs-CRP level increased, the patient's risks of mild skin itching (odds ratio [OR] = 1.740; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.061-2.854; P = 0.028), moderate skin itching (OR = 2.8838 95% CI, 1.744-4.718; P < 0.001), and severe skin itching (OR = 9.440; 95% CI, 3.547-25.124; P < 0.001) all increased as well. Compared with urban residents, rural residents have a higher risk of moderate itching (OR = 3.869; 95% CI, 1.099-13.622; P = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

Levels of hs-CRP were associated with the intensity of skin itching in patients with UP. Higher hs-CRP levels were closely related to severe skin itching. The relationship between the intensity of skin itching and the environment in maintenance hemodialysis patients needs further clarification.

Risk factors predicting severe hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Objective

This study was performed to investigate the risk factors for severe hypocalcemia (SH) after total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation (TPTX) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 136 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism treated by TPTX. The patients were categorized as having SH or non-SH based on their postoperative blood calcium concentration. The risk factors for SH were identified by comparing the clinical characteristics between the two groups and by performing multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

After surgery, 46.0% of the patients had hypocalcemia and 31.7% had SH. Evidence of renal osteodystrophy on lumbar radiographs and the serum concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were different between the two groups. The SH group had higher preoperative iPTH and ALP concentrations than the non-SH group. In addition, more patients with SH showed renal osteodystrophy. Logistic regression analyses indicated that preoperative hypocalcemia and a high ALP concentration were independent predictors of SH.

Conclusion

Preoperative hypocalcemia and a high ALP concentration were identified as risk factors for SH following TPTX.

Outcomes of cinacalcet withdrawal in Australian dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic kidney disease is associated with cardiovascular and bone pathology. Measures to achieve parathyroid hormone (PTH) target values and control biochemical abnormalities associated with SHPT require complex therapies, and severe SHPT often requires parathyroidectomy or the calcimimetic cinacalcet. In Australia, cinacalcet was publicly funded for dialysis patients from 2009 to 2015 when funding was withdrawn following publication of the EVOLVE study, which resulted in most patients on cinacalcet ceasing therapy. We examined the clinical and biochemical outcomes associated with this change at Australian renal centres.

AIM

To assess changes to biochemical and clinical outcomes in dialysis patients following cessation of cinacalcet.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of dialysis patients who ceased cinacalcet after August 2015 in 11 Australian units. Clinical outcomes and changes in biochemical parameters were assessed over a 24- and 12-month period, respectively, from cessation of cinacalcet.

RESULTS

A total of 228 patients was included (17.7% of all dialysis patients from the units). Patients were aged 63 ± 15 years with 182 patients on haemodialysis and 46 on peritoneal dialysis. Over 24 months following cessation of cinacalcet, we observed 26 parathyroidectomies, 3 episodes of calciphylaxis, 8 fractures and 50 deaths. Eight patients recommenced cinacalcet, meeting criteria under a special access scheme. Biochemical changes from baseline to 12 months after cessation included increased levels of serum PTH from 54 (interquartile range 27-90) pmol/L to 85 (interquartile range 41-139) pmol/L (P < 0.0001), serum calcium from 2.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L to 2.5 ± 0.1 mmol/L (P < 0.0001) and alkaline phosphatase from 123 (92-176) IU/L to 143 (102-197) IU/L (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Significant increases in serum PTH, calcium and alkaline phosphatase occurred over a 12-month period following withdrawal of cinacalcet. Longer-term follow up will determine if these biochemical and therapeutic changes are associated with altered rates of parathyroidectomies and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Can we predict who will develop postoperative hyperkalaemia after parathyroidectomy in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism?

BACKGROUND

Hyperkalaemia occurs frequently in many maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients after parathyroidectomy (PTX) with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). However, the clinical risk factors that predict postoperative hyperkalaemia are uncertain.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 90 maintenance haemodialysis patients aged ≥18 years who underwent PTX between April 2011 and April 2016 at Aerospace Center Hospital (Peking University Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine). Pre- and post-PTX surgery venous samples were measured in quadruplicate. We examined univariate associations with demographics, dialysis characteristics, laboratory values and medications. Hyperkalaemia was defined as serum potassium >5.3 mmol/L.

RESULTS

Out of nighty patients, twenty-two (24.4%) developed postoperative hyperkalaemia, of whom sixteen (18.1%) developed hyperkalaemia on postoperative day 3. The univariate analysis showed that weight, dialysis duration, preoperative serum potassium, alkaline phosphate, triglyceride, and postoperative alkaline phosphate were independently associated with hyperkalaemia after parathyroidectomy. The univariate logistic regression model showed that preoperative serum potassium was the only independent factor that could predict hyperkalaemia after parathyroidectomy (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.05). The optimal cut-off for pre-operative K was 3.9 mmol/L according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A higher incidence of postoperative hyperkalaemia was found in male and younger patients, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative serum potassium less than 3.9 mmol/L was associated with less hyperkalaemia post-operatively in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing PTX.

Parathyroidectomy decreases serum intact parathyroid hormone and calcium levels and prolongs overall survival in elderly hemodialysis patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of parathyroidectomy (PTX) treatment on prolonging overall survival (OS) as well as decreasing levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) in elderly hemodialysis patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).

METHODS

A total of 304 elderly hemodialysis patients with severe SHPT were consecutively enrolled in this cohort study. According to whether PTX operations were applied, patients were classified into PTX group (N = 112) and Control group (N = 192) and were followed up for 3 years. Mortality rate and OS were evaluated, and iPTH, Ca, and P levels were recorded.

RESULTS

Compared to control group, increased iPTH (P < 0.001), higher Ca (P = 0.003), elevated AST (P = 0.022), and lower Hb (P = 0.049) concentrations were observed in the PTX group at baseline. The 1-year mortality (P < 0.001), 2-year mortality (P < 0.001), and 3-year mortality (P < 0.001) was reduced in PTX group compared to Control group, and PTX was correlated with prolonged OS (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis further revealed that PTX treatment (P < 0.001, HR = 0.177) was an independent factor for better OS. Moreover, patients in PTX group had decreased iPTH (P < 0.05) and Ca (P < 0.05) levels compared to Control group at M1-M36, while no difference was found in serum P level between the two groups at M1-M36.

CONCLUSION

Parathyroidectomy decreases iPTH and Ca levels, and it associates with favorable survival in elderly hemodialysis patients with severe SHPT.

Risk factors for severe hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Severe hypocalcemia (SH) is a common and serious complication in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) after parathyroidectomy (PTX). The aim is to explore the risk predictors of SH in post-PTX dialysis ESRD patients with SHPT. 129 consecutive dialysis patients with SHPT underwent PTX were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 22 clinical parameters were included in the study. SH was defined as the minimum values of serum calcium lower than 1.875 mmol/L (7.5 mg/dL) after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that pruritus, lumbar X-ray changes of renal osteodystrophy, pre- and post-operative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), Calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and gland mass were significantly different between SH and non-SH groups. In the multivariate logistic regression model, the pre-operative serum iPTH, calcium, and pruritus were independent risk predictors of SH. AUCs for pre-operative serum iPTH, calcium and pruritus were 0.810, 0.714 and 0.591, respectively. Patients with higher level of pre-operative serum iPTH, lower level of serum calcium and with no/mild symptoms of pruritus are at greater risk of developing SH after PTX.

Resurgence of parathyroidectomy: evidence and outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Parathyroidectomy (PTx) is the definitive therapy for refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). The drastic effects of PTx on biochemical parameters of SHPT increases the possibility that this intervention will lead to a reduction in the adverse outcomes related to uncontrolled SHPT.

RECENT FINDINGS

The effect of PTx on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes among dialysis patients with severe SHPT have been evaluated in many observational studies from different regions of the world, including Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. In all but one small study, there was a significant association of PTx with lower all-cause mortality. In addition, in all studies, there was a trend in favor of PTx for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effect of PTx on fractures has been evaluated in only one epidemiological study from the United States, which demonstrated a significant association of PTx and lower hip and combined fractures.

SUMMARY

Although randomized evidence is lacking, these highly consistent results may suggest a strong beneficial effect of PTx on long-term clinical outcomes and eliminate the potential concern of low parathyroid hormone after PTx.

Impact of surgical parathyroidectomy on chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) - A systematic review and meta-analysis

For more than 6 decades, many patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have undergone surgical parathyroidectomy (sPTX) for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) mainly based historical clinical practice patterns, but not on evidence of outcome.We aimed in this meta-analysis to evaluate the benefits and harms of sPTX in patients with SHPT. We searched MEDLINE (inception to October 2016), EMBASE and Cochrane Library (through Issue 10 of 12, October 2016) and website clinicaltrials.gov (October 2016) without language restriction. Eligible studies evaluated patients reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² (CKD 3–5 stages) with hyperparathyroidism who underwent sPTX. Reviewers working independently and in duplicate extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. The final analysis included 15 cohort studies, comprising 24,048 participants. Compared with standard treatment, sPTX significantly decreased all-cause mortality (RR 0.74 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.83]) in End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients with biochemical and / or clinical evidence of SHPT. sPTX was also associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.59 [95% CI, 0.46 to 0.76]) in 6 observational studies that included almost 10,000 patients. The available evidence, mostly observational, is at moderate risk of bias, and limited by indirect comparisons and inconsistency in reporting for some outcomes (eg. short term adverse events, including documented voice change or episodes of severe hypocalcaemia needing admission or long-term adverse events, including undetectable PTH levels, risk of fractures etc.). Taken together, the results of this meta-analysis would suggest a clinically significant beneficial effect of sPTX on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients with SHPT. However, given the observational nature of the included studies, the case for a properly conducted, independent randomised controlled trial comparing surgery with medical therapy and featuring many different outcomes from mortality to quality of life (QoL) is now very strong.

Long-term mortality after parathyroidectomy among chronic kidney disease patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Parathyroidectomy (PTx) and medical treatments are both recommended for reducing serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and curing secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but their therapeutic effects on long-term mortality are not well-known. Thus, we aim to assess such therapeutic effect of PTx. Electronic literatures published on Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in any language until 27 November 2015 were systematically searched. All literatures that compared outcomes (survival rate or mortality rate) between PTx-treated and medically-treated CKD patients with sHPT were included. Finally, 13 cohort studies involving 22053 patients were included. Data were extracted from all included literatures in a standard form. The outcomes of all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities were assessed using DerSimonian and Laird's random effects model. We find PTx-treated versus medically-treated patients had a 28% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 37% reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Thus, PTx versus medical treatments might reduce the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities in CKD patients with sHPT. Further studies with prospective and large-sample clinical trials are needed to find out the real effect of PTx and to assess whether mortality rates differ among patterns of PTx.