Estrogens and progestins in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Although surgery remains the only curative treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, interest continues in developing alternative therapy for patients who reject or cannot undergo an operation. For the majority of patients (who are menopausal women), estrogen or progestin therapy may control hypercalcemia and calciuria and reduce the rate of bone turnover. Whether the long-term clinical outcome of hyperparathyroidism is improved by hormone replacement remains to be established.