The conservative management of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Sixty-eight patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism were studied for a mean period of 4.5 years (median 3.3). Seven of these patients presented with renal colic while the rest had no symptoms. There was no significant deterioration in mean serum creatinine, total calcium or ionized calcium concentrations during this period. No patient had progressive renal stone or parathyroid bone disease. Hypertension was defined as a systolic or diastolic blood pressure greater than one standard deviation from the age-sex mean, or if hypotensive drugs were required. Thirty-nine per cent were hypertensive at presentation and 42 per cent became hypertensive later. Four patients died from causes unrelated to hypercalcaemia and three required parathyroidectomy when serum calcium concentration rose above 3.0 mmol/l. Patients over 55 with mild asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism may be managed conservatively for several years without significant renal impairment, progressive stone disease, parathyroid bone disease or worsening hypercalcaemia. We suggest that observation in these patients could be restricted to six-monthly checks of physical state, blood pressure and serum biochemistry, particularly concentration of calcium creatinine and alkaline phosphatase.