Primary hyperparathyroidism in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: Comparison with sporadic parathyroid adenomas

A prospective study on the natural course of primary hyperparathyroidism has recently been reported. Since hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is genetically distinct from most forms of sporadic hyperparathyroidism, it is important to know the natural course of hyperparathyroidism in MEN 1 for better clinical management. For this purpose, we retrospectively reviewed clinical parameters of patients with MEN 1 when they were diagnosed as having hyperparathyroidism, and compared them with those of patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism. In patients with MEN 1: 1) levels of intact PTH (i-PTH) gradually increased with age, which accelerated over 40 years; 2) compared to the steep rise in i-PTH levels in aged patients, increase in serum calcium or decrease of serum inorganic phosphate concentration was relatively mild, and 3) the high concentrations of i-PTH in aged patients were not due to renal insufficiency. These features were not observed in patients with sporadic primary parathyroid adenomas. Clinical features of untreated hyperparathyroidism in MEN 1 may be significantly affected by the age of the patient. The effect, if any, of age-dependent deterioration on recurrence rate after subtotal or total parathyroidectomy requires further elucidation.