Parathyroidectomy May Reduce Fracture Risk in Primary Hyperparathyroidism

(HealthDay News) — For patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroidectomy is associated with reduced fracture risk, whereas bisphosphonate treatment is not superior to observation, according to a study published  in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Michael W. Yeh, MD, from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, and colleagues examined the comparative effectiveness of surgical and medical treatments on fracture risk in primary hyperparathyroidism in a retrospective cohort study conducted from 1995 to 2010.

The researchers found that observation led to a progressive decrease in total hip bone mineral density (BMD) in 2013 women and men with serial bone density examinations. Transient increases in total hip BMD were observed with parathyroidectomy and bisphosphonates in women. 

In 6272 patients followed for fracture, at 10 years the absolute risk for hip fracture was 55.9 events per 1000 patients among those undergoing observation, 20.4 events per 1000 patients among those undergoing parathyroidectomy, and 85.6 events per 1000 patients among those treated with bisphosphonates. At 10 years the risk for any fracture was 206.1, 156.8, and 302.5 events per 1000 patients among those undergoing observation, parathyroidectomy, and bisphosphonate treatment, respectively. 

Parathyroidectomy correlated with reduced fracture risk in osteoporotic and osteopenic patients, while increased fracture risk was seen with use of bisphosphonates in these populations.

“Parathyroidectomy was associated with reduced fracture risk in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, whereas bisphosphonate treatment was not superior to observation,” the researchers wrote.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Reference

1. Yeh MW, Zhou H, Adams AL, et al. The Relationship of Parathyroidectomy and Bisphosphonates With Fracture Risk in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: An Observational Study. Ann Intern Med. 2016. doi:10.7326/M15-1232.