Publication

Clinical presentation and management of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism of the Swiss Primary Hyperparathyroidism Cohort: a focus on neuro-behavioral and cognitive symptoms

Journal Paper/Review - Jan 7, 2016

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Trombetti A, Rizzoli R, Kraenzlin M, Triponez F, Torriani C, Herrmann F, Brändle M, Gold G, Henzen C, Christ E, Meier C. Clinical presentation and management of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism of the Swiss Primary Hyperparathyroidism Cohort: a focus on neuro-behavioral and cognitive symptoms. J Endocrinol Invest 2016; 39:567-76.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
J Endocrinol Invest 2016; 39
Publication Date
Jan 7, 2016
Issn Electronic
1720-8386
Pages
567-76
Brief description/objective

PURPOSE
To describe the clinical and biochemical profile of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) of the Swiss Hyperparathyroidism Cohort, with a focus on neurobehavioral and cognitive symptoms and on their changes in response to parathyroidectomy.

METHODS
From June 2007 to September 2012, 332 patients were enrolled in the Swiss PHPT Cohort Study, a nationwide prospective and non-interventional project collecting clinical, biochemical, and outcome data in newly diagnosed patients. Neuro-behavioral and cognitive status were evaluated annually using the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Clock Drawing tests. Follow-up data were recorded every 6 months. Patients with parathyroidectomy had one follow-up visit 3-6 months' postoperatively.

RESULTS
Symptomatic PHPT was present in 43 % of patients. Among asymptomatic patients, 69 % (131/189) had at least one of the US National Institutes for Health criteria for surgery, leaving thus a small number of patients with cognitive dysfunction or neuropsychological symptoms, but without any other indication for surgery. At baseline, a large proportion showed elevated depression and anxiety scores and cognitive dysfunction, but with no association between biochemical manifestations of the disease and test scores. In the 153 (46 %) patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, we observed an improvement in the Mini-Mental State Examination (P = 0.01), anxiety (P = 0.05) and depression (P = 0.05) scores.

CONCLUSION
PHPT patients often present elevated depression and anxiety scores and cognitive dysfunction, but rarely as isolated manifestations. These alterations may be relieved upon treatment by parathyroidectomy.