PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterized by hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from one or more parathyroid glands, lead ing to hypercalcemia and relative hypophosphatemia. It is now recogniz ed to be quite common, particularly in the elderly. Most cases have on ly mild hypercalcemia, which is detected fortuitously by automated ser um calcium measurements and nonspecific symptoms. The optimum therapy for such cases, which are most often postmenopausal women, is not yet established because of inadequate information about the natural histor y of the condition and its relation to symptomatology.