RESULTS OF OPERATIVE THERAPY IN RENAL HYP ERPARATHYROIDISM - FOLLOW-UP OF 143 PATIENTS

Subtotal parathyroidectomy (SPTX) and total parathyroidectomy with aut otransplantation (PTX and AT) are now equivalent and challenging surgi cal procedures, that now involve very low morbidity even in patients w ith serious secondary illness. In most cases, either brings about a si gnificant amelioration of quality of life. It is rare for the illness to persist after such an operation. In most cases, this is the case on ly after an inadequate primary operation. An actual recurrence of the illness after at least 6 months is a much more serious problem and can not usually be attributed to an inadequate operation. Our experience i s based on operations performed in 143 patients and a follow-up of up to 8 years. In 68.7% of cases there was a noticeable improvement of bo ne pain immediately after the operation. This rate fell to 61.5% durin g subsequent years. Comparable results could not be achieved with any drug therapy. After SPTX the recurrence rate was 4.5%, and after PTX a nd AT, 5.5%. This is comparable to the results cited in the literature .