Perioperative changes in cortical excitability, mood, and quality of life in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: a pilot study using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Association of Major Depressive Disorder in Hyperparathyroidism: A Systematic Review

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common neuropsychiatry manifestation that is more prevalent lately. Many contributing factors are present (for example, neurochemical, physiological, pathophysiological, and endocrinological factors). Patients with increased serum parathyroid levels are usually linked to psychosis symptoms but not to depressive symptoms. We conducted this systematic review to explore a correlation between depressive disorder and increased serum parathyroid levels, a major endocrinological pathology, and help establish mental wellness in patients suffering from hyperparathyroidism. We conducted a thorough literature search using five major databases, MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, using three keywords-MDD, depression, and hyperparathyroidism. We included mixed method studies, including observational studies, non-randomized controlled trials, case reports, and review articles published in the last ten years, focusing on the adult and geriatric population (>18 years) and on depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with patients with hyperparathyroidism. We included 11 articles (seven observational studies + four case reports) for qualitative synthesis after screening the literature. The reviewed studies showed an association between high serum parathyroid level, high serum calcium level, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, low serum phosphorous level, and increased depressive neurocognitive symptoms. After a patient with hyperparathyroidism is treated for hypercalcemia or undergoes parathyroidectomy and the serum parathyroid levels are lowered, a decrease in severe depressive symptoms is noted. The qualitative analysis of the reviewed literature showed an association between major depressive disorder and hyperparathyroidism. This paper can guide clinicians to assess patients with increased serum parathyroid levels for depressive neuropsychiatric symptoms and plan treatment, as treatment of their hyperparathyroidism can significantly lower their depressive symptoms. More randomized controlled trials should be conducted to find the treatment effectiveness of depression in patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Successful parathyroidectomy improves cognition in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: A prospective study in a tertiary medical center and comprehensive review of the literature

CONTEXT

The recent American and European guidelines on management of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) did not endorse neurocognitive evaluation as part of standard work-up and did not consider it as a surgery criterion.The neurocognitive deleterious effects of hyperparathyroidism and impact of parathyroidectomy on PHPT patients is yet to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate specific neurocognitive functions in PHPT patients prior to parathyroidectomy and describe the changes during follow-up with serial evaluations.

DESIGN

A prospective case-control study including parathyroidectomy candidates evaluated at a tertiary teaching university hospital. Thorough neurocognitive evaluation was conducted before and 1- & 6-months following parathyroidectomy: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF), Trail Making Test A, Trail Making Test B, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

RESULTS

18 consecutive patients underwent successful parathyroidectomy. Various neurocognitive functions improved significantly after successful parathyroidectomy: long term auditory memory (RAVLT, p=0.008), short- and long-term visual memory (ROCF, p=0.006 and p=0.002 respectively), visual attention and complex concentration skills (trail making A, p<0.001) and executive abilities (trail making B, p=0.005). No change was identified in frontal-lobe abilities. Depression symptoms were absent or minimal prior to surgery and no significant change was observed after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

PHPT is associated with significant various neurocognitive dysfunctions when mindfully evaluated before surgery. Successful parathyroidectomy results in several neurocognitive aspect improvements. The data suggest that neurocognitive deterioration may be considered an added parathyroidectomy criterion when surgical decision is not straightforward.

Health-related quality of life improves 1 year after parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Impaired quality of life (QoL) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is commonly present. Patients may complain about nonspecific neurocognitive symptoms which can be difficult to quantify. Two different disease-specific questionnaires have been developed, that is, the parathyroid assessment of symptoms score (PAS) and the primary hyperparathyroidism quality of life (PHPQoL). Using these two questionnaires, we assessed relationship between QoL and biochemical indices in PHPT and effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX).

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients with PHPT diagnosed from 2015 to 2017 were asked to answer the questionnaires before and 12 months after PTX. Biochemistry was obtained on both occasions.

RESULTS

A total of 104 PHPT patients answered PAS and PHPQoL questionnaires at baseline, with a median age of 64 years (73% females). PHPQoL score correlated inversely with ionized calcium and PTH at baseline (P ˂ 0.04). Total PAS and PHPQoL score did not differ between those with and without osteoporosis, renal calcifications and impaired renal function. Based on levels of ionized calcium, PHPQoL differed significantly between patients with mild- and moderate-severe hypercalcemia (P = 0.01). Fifty-three patients answered PAS and PHPQoL 12 months after PTX showing an improved QoL at follow-up (P_all  ˂ 0.02). Stratifying patients into groups based on levels of ionized calcium showed a significantly improved PHPQoL score in patients with mild (˂1.45 mmol/L) as well as moderate-severe hypercalcemia (≥1.45 mmol/L) at follow-up (P_all  ˂ 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Quality of life improved 12 months after PTX in PHPT patients. Impaired QoL seems to be associated with the degree of hypercalcemia rather than organ manifestations attributable to PHPT.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common disorder in which parathyroid hormone (PTH) is excessively secreted from one or more of the four parathyroid glands. A single benign parathyroid adenoma is the cause in most people. However, multiglandular disease is not rare and is typically seen in familial PHPT syndromes. The genetics of PHPT is usually monoclonal when a single gland is involved and polyclonal when multiglandular disease is present. The genes that have been implicated in PHPT include proto-oncogenes and tumour-suppressor genes. Hypercalcaemia is the biochemical hallmark of PHPT. Usually, the concentration of PTH is frankly increased but can remain within the normal range, which is abnormal in the setting of hypercalcaemia. Normocalcaemic PHPT, a variant in which the serum calcium level is persistently normal but PTH levels are increased in the absence of an obvious inciting stimulus, is now recognized. The clinical presentation of PHPT varies from asymptomatic disease (seen in countries where biochemical screening is routine) to classic symptomatic disease in which renal and/or skeletal complications are observed. Management guidelines have recently been revised to help the clinician to decide on the merits of a parathyroidectomy or a non-surgical course. This Primer covers these areas with particular attention to the epidemiology, clinical presentations, genetics, evaluation and guidelines for the management of PHPT.