Blood requirement and subtotal parathyroidectomy in patients with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis.

Six patients on maintenance hemodialysis underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy. In 3 patients with a "high" blood requirement before operation, a decrease, by at least 50%, was observed, while in 3 others with a "low need" for transfusion subtotal parathyroidectomy had no affect. Subtotal parathyroidectomy should be considered in hemodialysis patients with excessive need for blood transfusions.