Evaluation of endothelial function and diastolic function in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism before and after parathyroidectomy.

INTRODUCTION

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the leading cause of outpatient hypercalcemia associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV) has been proposed as a non-invasive method for assessing endothelial function.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the endothelial dysfunction measured by FMV and diastolic dysfunction in patients with PHPT before and after parathyroidectomy.

METHOD

We performed a quasi-experimental (before-after) study to evaluate diastolic function and FMV in patients with PHPT before and six months after parathyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients completed study: 12 women and 3 men; 73% presented lithiasis, 27% osteoporosis and 53% metabolic syndrome; 73% presented diastolic dysfunction before the surgery and 60% after the surgery (p = 0.09). Post-isquemia brachial diameter improved from 41 mm (before surgery) to 46 mm (after surgery; p = 0.020). After surgery, we also observed an increase in the brachial diameter pre vs. post-ischemia from 41 to 46 mm (p = 0.005). Before surgery, the change in the delta of brachial diameter pre and post-ischemia was 1 mm and up to 4 mm after surgery (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a minor endothelial dysfunction measured by FMV in patients who underwent surgery for PHPT at 6 months after surgery, as well as a trend towards improvement in diastolic dysfunction. Echocardiography can be useful in the preoperative evaluation in patients with asymptomatic PHPT.